Fishing Forecast May 22nd – 29th

Thursday, 23 May, 2013 14:58 Written by Dave Faltings

May 25th…the 2013 season opener is upon us! While Silver Creek will fish from day one, our local freestone rivers are in the midst of spring runoff. The weather gurus are calling for cooler temperatures over Memorial Weekend which will slow the runoff, but there is still a bit of high altitude snow yet to come down when warmer temperatures return and we should see the river levels spike again. Still, I expect we will see these streams really come into shape earlier this year. As early as mid June, Warm Springs should be very fishable and the Big Wood and Upper Big Lost will not be far behind. For those who like to fish around Stanley on the Salmon River, we should have a very good drift boat season starting in late June into July, with August getting a bit skinny for floating. The high altitude lakes around Stanley will open up earlier this year as well. Even the local tailwaters (like the Lost below Mackay, the Wood below Magic and the South Fork of the Boise) should have lower than average flows this year making them more accessible earlier than previous years. Combine the big bugs of spring, like the Salmon and Stone Fly as well as the the Brown and Green Drakes, with lower than average flows and we are heading for a great early dry fly season. So come on down to the shop and we will help you load your boxes and prep your tackle for the season ahead. And if you are feeling a bit rusty or would like to try fly fishing for the fist time, why not sign up for one of our Fly Fishing 101 classes. Better yet, by a Sage rod and you can attend the class for free!

Silver Creek
With the other local rivers in runoff mode, the Creek is the best looking girl at the dance. If you go, expect to see some PMDs in size 16 and some Baetis in size 18 and 20. On warm days the bugs will come off mid morning into the early afternoon. On cooler days, don’t expect to see them until the late afternoon. Of course, the early season fish can be very gullible as compared to July and August, and many different techniques will fool these trout. Since the Chara and other aquatic vegetation has not yet filled the stream bottom, using streamers can be very effective as well as nymph fishing with pheasant tails and hares ears in size 12 -18, beaded or non beaded. I would even consider using beetles and ant patterns if no bugs are present and a good spring wind begins to blow. I would also anticipate some Green Drakes to be making an appearance in the upper Creek over the next couple of weeks. It is always a good idea to have this big bug in your arsenal. And the Brown Drake watch has begun. We typically expect to see Brown Drakes in the lower part of the Creek the first or second week of June. The air and water temps will determine the timing on this hatch, so stay tuned.

The Big Wood
The Wood is over 1,000 CFS and has been as high as 1,550 earlier this year. You can fish the river at this level with some success. If you can find a good side channel or some slow water you will find fish; however, attempting to wade this river at this level is a bad idea. If you do wear waders, be sure to keep your wading belt on, or better yet simply wet wade to avoid getting into a bad situation with the high flows. The simple fact is that most of your fishing at this water level can be done from the bank making wading unnecessary; you will only need to get your feet wet to safely land and release your fish. So if you do want to hole hop around the river during the early season, plan on throwing big nymphs like Rubber Leg Stones, Green Drake Nymphs, large beaded PTs, or Prince Nymphs. Streamers will also work well. Big drys, like Stimulators or Chubby Chernobyls may also bring a fish up. This time of year it is not a bad idea to fish with a 5 or 6 weight rod to help land fish in the heavy current and toss the big bugs around. Also there is no reason to use dainty tippet; 4 or 3x tippet is fine for both drys and nymphs.

Big Lost River
With the road now open over Trail Creek, it will be easy to access both the upper and lower portions of this river. The flows continue to rise below Mackay Reservoir. They have jumped again to about 450 CFS which is a difficult, but not impossible level to fish.
My guess is that this river will continue to rise, so if you plan to fish here, keep your eye on the Idaho River Flows page (use the link on our website). The upper Lost will follow the same pattern as the Wood. Expect to be able to fish the East and West Fork by the middle of June with it really coming into great shape in July. The Copper Basin portion of the Lost will be the first area to start looking for fishable water in the next few weeks.

South Fork of the Boise
With flows at 1600 CFS, the South Fork is going to be better for drift boats than wade fisherman when it opens. Many fish will still be on their redds, so please leave them be. This fishery will really begin to get good once the Salmon Fly hatch begins later in June, but if you go for the opener have an assortment of heavy rubber legged stone fly nymphs for the riffles and some big foamy drys for working the banks. Streamers might pick up a big Bull Trout as well.

Stillwater Options
Magic, Mackay or Duck Valley are good options right now whether you want to float tube, pontoon, our fish from a boat. Be sure to always have a safety whistle and a life jacket. And watch out for those high winds which can blow this time of year. In May and June, I like to pull Seal buggers and Pops buggers in black or olive off of a sinking line like a type 3 or 5 or suspend a team of nymphs off an indicator like Prince nymphs, Copper Johns, or classic Chironomids with a floating line. This also a good time to consider going to CJ Strike to chase carp or the Bruneau Sand Dunes for bass and bluegill. Whatever you decide to do, come on by the shop and we will hook you up with the best flies for your situation.

Many men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.~ Henry David Thoreau

photo by Terry Ring

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Fishing Forecast April 3rd – 17th

Wednesday, 03 April, 2013 11:41 Written by Dave Faltings

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To allow the wild rainbows time to spawn in peace, the Wood, the South Fork of the Boise and all their tributaries are now closed, but will reopen, along with Silver Creek, on May 25th. In the meanwhile, there still are plenty of fishing opportunities for those willing to travel outside the Wood River Valley. In fact, April offers a wide variety of angling opportunities from Steelhead to stillwaters. The day time highs have been warm enough to open up many of our reservoirs earlier then past years and yet still cooling off enough at night to keep the heavy run off from impacting the ability to fish around the Stanley area. For those looking ahead to the next season, keep your eyes on the spring weather. The Wood River Valley snowpack is currently at about 80% of normal and unless it snows all spring in the higher elevations, we should have a moderate runoff with lower flows on the Wood then we have had the last two summers. But then again, Mother Nature might have something to say about that.

Steelhead
The fish are in all the way to the Hatchery above Stanley and the fishing should remain fair to good most of the month of April, weather and water permitting. The recent warming trend has caused Basin Creek, several miles down river of Stanley, to blowout and make the Salmon unfishable from this point down. However, a cold front is coming the first weekend of April and may reverse this trend…so stay tuned if you would like to fish the water between Basin Creek and Clayton. Also, there is some road construction occurring between the Salmon Spawning beds and Slate Creek with some road closures that you should be aware of before you go. Come on into the shop and check out our full selection of steelhead flies and we will give you the latest report.

The Big Lost
With the Wood closed, this is your best alternative to find trout feeding on the surface. It is a trek from Ketchum, but well worth your effort. The hatches on the Lost this time of year are a combination of midge and Baetis and on the right day they can be spectacular. You will need a good selection of midge in sizes 18-22 and Baetis in size 16-18 both dry and wet. Some fish are all ready spawning in the shallow riffles so please wade with caution and leave them alone.

Stillwater Options
Most fishermen know that when the ice comes off of a reservoir, the fishing can be fantastic. Typically, I don’t think about fishing our mountain reservoirs until May, but the warm weather has made this a good possibility. Magic is now ice free and for those willing to brave the elements, the fishing should be quite good and getting better. In the spring I like to pull Seal Buggars and Pops Buggars in black or olive off of a sinking line like a type 3 or 5 or suspend a team of nymphs off an indicator like Prince nymphs, Copper Johns, or classic Chironomids. I would also consider a trip a bit further down the road to Little Camas. The fish in Little Camas grow very fast and the last couple years of good water will make for great spring fishing this year.

Many men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.~ Henry David Thoreau

photo by Bryan Huskey

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Fishing Forecast October 31st – November 14th

Wednesday, 31 October, 2012 17:24 Written by Dave Faltings

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“Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul… I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball.”—Ishmael from Moby Dick

The best cure for the Shoulder Season blues is time spent plying our local waters in pursuit of trout. The trails may be too muddy to ride and the slopes may not yet be ready to ski, but the rivers beckon any angler seeking solitude. Grab your long johns, your fleece, your down filled jacket, your hat and your fingerless gloves. Fill up your thermos, top off your flask, and stuff your boxes with the bugs of winter. I account it high time to go fly fishing as soon as you can. Your Moby Dick awaits!

Silver Creek
The Creek is still fishing well enough to warrant a visit and with the light pressure this time of year you can really have your pick of the water. In general, the surface activity is spotty with the best action in the late afternoons with Baetis and midge. However, milder days in November can produce short, but intense Baetis hatches. The fish are really eager to eat, so any hatch activity can get the fish active both on the surface and subsurface. Nymphing with small midge and Baetis nymphs is very productive and streamers are turning some fish. Because of the cold water temps, be sure to layer up under your waders. If you still want to tube, you should consider using your old 5mm neoprene waders. The Brown spawning activity has really picked up and it is best just to leave these fish alone and please don’t wade through the redds. Remember, this is the last month to fish the Creek above the Highway 20 Bridge.

Big Wood River
The Wood is your best choice if you just want to get out for a few hours. The fishing is still really good in the late afternoons even though the hatches are starting to wane. Look for the fish to be holding in the slower water as they transition into their winter holds. For bugs, have your usual midge and Baetis dries and nymphs as well as some attractors. A dry dropper rig is deadly for suspending your midge or Baetis nymph at the right depth through the slower water. Keep adjusting the length of your dropper until you find the fish. Streamer fishing or swinging large nymphs can also be a good producer this time of year.

Lower Big Lost
Before you go, check the weather and the road conditions for Trail Creek Pass. We have had some early season snow and rain and more is in the forecast. If you can’t make it over the pass, it is still worth the trip through Arco and up to Mackay. The river below the dam is flowing around 100 CFS and at this level the fish are concentrated in the deeper runs and in the riffles at the head of these runs. Expect to find some Baetis and midge hatching in the afternoons. If you find risers, you will need long leaders down to 6x and small flies to match. The most consistent action will come on small beaded midge and Baetis nymphs fished off a dry or small indicator.

Salmon River
This is a beautiful time to make the drive over the hill and gaze upon the Sawtooth Mountains dusted with snow. The fishing slows down as the river temps drop, but knowledgeable nymph fishermen will still find fishing opportunities. Plan on nymphing a double nymph rig with a combination of a Prince Nymph, King Prince, Copper John or Caddis Pupae (sizes 12-14) through the deeper slow water and pockets during the warmest time of the day.

Steelhead
If you are considering heading to the Grande Ronde, the Clearwater, or the Lower Snake stop by the shop for the latest information and to stock up on flies. With the recent rain and snow, these fish have started to move.

South Fork of the Boise
This river is really one of the premier cold weather fisheries in the country and will provide excellent fishing opportunities from now all the way until March when the river closes. Use caution when driving the road from the rim to the river as it is often a sheet of ice. Studded snow tires, chains, and four wheel drive vehicles are a must. It is full of whitefish, rainbows, cutbows, and bull trout and with the low flows these fish will be concentrated in the best water. Midge will be the dominate insect with a smattering of Baetis on the warmer days. Nymphing with small classic tailwater flies as well as caddis and stoneflies in the slow riffles can also be productive.

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Everyone should believe in something. I believe I’ll go fishing.~ Thoreau

photo by Bryan Huskey

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Fishing Forecast September 26th – October 3rd

Wednesday, 26 September, 2012 14:31 Written by Dave Faltings

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Classic fall weather is in the forecast as well as classic fall fishing. The mornings will be crisp with lows in the 20s and the high temps will reach the low 70s most of the week. You will also notice that they average water temperatures have dropped to toe numbing levels. For anglers this means there is no reason to get out too early. If you do go early, wear some layers that you can peel off as the day warms up. As for the fish and the bugs, they will wait until the air temp hits about 50 and then it is game on. The best fishing will be from midday until early evening. You will find the fishing will shut down just as quickly as it turned on.

Silver Creek
This is a great time of year to go explore sections of the Creek that you may not have fished in a while. Maybe go checkout Priest Rapids or the Lower Little Wood, which is basically the Creek in the desert south of Carey. These areas have a ton of hoppers and fish eagerly eating them. While the fish are on average smaller in these sections they also hold the occasional trophy. Remember, the Taylor “Bear Tracks” section of the Little Wood closes the end of October. If you head to the Nature Conservancy or Kilpatrick’s Pond, expect to find the usual array of fall bugs. In the late morning we are still seeing some Tricos mixed with Baetis. Afternoons are a mix of Baetis and Callibaetis along with the occasional Mahogany Dun. Terrestrials are always a good bet when the wind blows, but the fish are getting weary of hoppers. Ants and beetles have been more consistent. Also small Baetis nymphs and Zebra nymphs are producing fish as well when all else fails. This is also a good time to start looking for big browns moving about in the early stages of the fall spawn. You will often find these monsters holding in shallow water with gravel bottoms. These aggressive browns are suckers for a well played streamer. Take your 6WT and rig it with a long fluorocarbon leader to 2x. Cast slightly down and across and allow the streamer to sink to the level of the fish before you start a twitch strip during the swing. I like to tickle the fish on the nose with the fly to initiate a chase. When you feel a take, strip to set the hook before you lift the rod. Streamers always get some kind of response from the fish…either they spook or they chase, so plan on covering a ton of water. If you find the browns on redds, leave them alone. Instead, target the fish just down stream.

Big Wood River
The Wood is fall fishing Nirvana. The Hecuba, the last big bug of the season, has been good on the middle part of the river up to Lake Creek. Even if you are not seeing any around, the fish are keying on them. The Baetis (size 20) are also very strong and should keep the fish occupied most of the day. To imitate this fly you can use any size 18 or 20 parachute or hackled pattern. I prefer the olive gulper special with an orange post or any of the Harrop Baetis patterns. Also look for a small ginger colored Crane Fly to be skittering across the surface. I have been using a tan Elk Hair Caddis brushed with Frogs Fanny to imitate this bug with good results. Cast it down and across on a long leader and with an elevated rod tip and skate it across the surface. On the lower Wood, flying ants have been abundant and any size 16 ant pattern will do. Also the nymphing has been outstanding. The best method is to fish a high floating dry, like an Parachute Ant, a hopper or a Hecuba, with a small baetis nymph or Zebra midge (size 18) trialing behind. Whether you are dry fly fishing, dry dropper, or straight line nymphing, a Tenkara rod can do them all…and the extra length of these rods really makes presentation a breeze. The Wood and Tenkara are a perfect match! I would recommend the 11 or 12 foot Iwana or the 13 foot Ayu. Two more bits of advice…with the cool mornings, the fishing has really been best from around noon till the sun leaves the water. And keep in mind, the fish are spread out in every type of water with the biggest fish in the shallow riffles and tailouts.

Big Lost River below Mackay
This is a great fall fishing option if you are willing to make the hour plus drive over Trail Creek. Flows are at 300 CFS and they have been holding steady, but they may drop even more over the next week. As the morning air loses its chill, there will be some Tricos and good numbers of Baetis through the middle of the day. Look for heads in the seams and in the slow tailouts. The big fish usually group together during these feeding times, so be on the lookout for them. When the bugs are gone, be prepared to nymph. Also when the bugs are gone it is harder to find the bigger fish. But a persistent nymph fisherman will find a few. Like the Wood, this is a great river to play with a Tenkara Rod. For the bigger fish I recommend the 13 and a half foot Amago, but a 12 foot Iwana is also good. These longer rods will really help you get a good drift on the seam sippers. And it is possible to land big fish with these rods; I have seen many fish in the 18 to twenty inch class tamed by a Tenkara rod. To successfully land these monsters, you will need to use your feet to move with the fish and utilize the incredible leverage the rods provide to turn a straight run from a fish into a curved one. As always, I would not be without the following bugs in my box: Crane Flies, Tricos ( size 22-24), Baetis (size 18-20) and an assortment of nymphs such as King Princes (size 12, 14), San Juan Worms, Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 14, 16), Bishop’s Dynamite (size 14, 16, 18), Zebra Midge (size 16,18) WD40s (size 18,20) and Rainbow Warriors (size 16,18,20).

Upper Big Lost
The water in this part of the Lost is low and cold, so focus your attention on the Main Stem of the Upper Lost from the North Fork confluence and down and plan on fishing from about noon on till the sun leaves the water. Since the river is low, the fish are spread out. You can expect there to be maybe one good fish per run with only one legitimate chance at getting a strike…so make it count. The fishing is best from the middle of the day into the late afternoon. Don’t expect to see too many bugs and be prepared to cover a lot of ground to find fish. The Whitefish are eager to eat a fly and a few quality Rainbows, Cutbows, Brook Trout, and Cutthroat can be found as well. If you are looking for huge numbers of trout, stick to the Wood, but if you want to search gorgeous water for that one fantastic trout, give this a try. And you are guaranteed solitude. Take along an assortment of your favorite attractor dry flies and nymphs as well as your standard parachute patterns: Parachute Hare’s Ear, Turk’s Tarantulas, PMX, Royal Wulffs, King Prince, Flashback PTs and Zebra Midge.

Salmon River
Despite the fire, there are fishing opportunities in this area. Check with us about road closures if you plan on fishing beyond Stanley, but there are plenty of good access points along the river above the town of Stanley. For flies, I still like Yellow and Orange Stimulators even though the Stones are long gone and attractors such as Turk’s Tarantula as well as Hoppers work great. Nymphs, such as Tungsten PTs and Rainbow Warriors in size 16 tied of the back of these big bugs will also be good producers.

Warm Springs & Trail Creek
If you like stocking fish in shallow water, than you might give these two Big Wood tributaries a go. The water will be very low and the wild fish will be shy. During the summer Fish and Game stocks these rivers around the bridges and anywhere the rivers near the road and some of these fish will still be around. But, if you seek wild fish, just leave the beaten path and explore. Be stealthy. As long as the fish are not scared they will eat the usual attractor drys and nymphs.

South Fork of the Boise
The flows have dropped to around 300 CFS and is perfect for wade fishing. As always, look for Pinks and Flavs along with fall Baetis during the comfortable times of the day. Also expect to see crane flies skittering about followed by a vicious take. The caddis in the evenings have remained quite strong and it is still worth fishing right to dark during these unseasonable warm days. If you find no bugs about, you might try a hopper as well. Nymphing is also going to be productive with the usual suspects such as PTs (size 16-20), Zebra Midge (size 18,20), as well as stoneflies and caddis larva imitations. I like nymphing with either a stone or caddis larva as an anchor fly along with a smaller midge or mayfly imitation when nothing else is going on.

Area Reservoirs
It is that time of year when I begin thinking about spending some time on one of our local reservoirs again. Little Camas, Magic, Mackay, or Duck Valley are all going to be fantastic options this time of year. The fish are going to be anywhere from 2 to 4 inches bigger from this spring and just like their brethren in the river they will begin to feed voraciously to fatten up for the onset of winter. So grab some fins and a tube and hold on to your rods…reservoir fish are hot!

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Everyone should believe in something. I believe I’ll go fishing.~ Thoreau

photo by Terry Ring

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Fishing Forecast September 5th – 12th

Wednesday, 05 September, 2012 10:36 Written by SilverCreekOutfitters

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September is a special time on our local fisheries. The morning air is crisp and anglers will want to don a light jacket to stave off the chill. By midday and into the afternoon, anglers will wish to shed their jacket and may consider wet wading one last time to stay comfortable during the warmest part of the day. A few yellow leaves can be seen floating in the current when the wind blows along with hoppers and flying ants. The small patches of yellow and red foliage will begin to spread as the fall colors lead to their peak over the next several weeks. It won’t be long before the browns of silver creek will be tricked in the same yellow and orange as they prepare for the spawn. The last crowds of summer have departed making it easier to find your own stretch of river and the shorter days and cooler temps have initiated the fall hatches and triggered more aggressive feeding for the trout. The season’s best angling is on the horizon.

Silver Creek
The crowds are mostly gone on this fishery, as are the bugs of summer. Tricos, PMDs, and Damsels can still be found but not in significant numbers. It is hopper time! My best advice for a day on the Creek is as follows…sleep in and wait for the wind to blow. As the day heats up, hoppers start flying. All you need to make the fish throw caution aside is a light chop on the glassy surface of the Creek. Frankly, the harder the wind blows the better the hopper fishing can be. This a great chance to catch a giant Brown as they attempt to fatten up before the spawn later this fall. Also watch the weather forecast over the next few weeks; Cloudy ,calm days will trigger fantastic Baetis hatches. These Baetis are small and you will need patterns in size 20, 22, and 24 to match the hatch. For this bug, size is more important than color and fish should take any well presented fly. Also be prepared for some Mahogany Duns as they will make an appearance in the coming weeks. Some days are still producing great midday to late afternoon Callibaetis action. This bug is smaller than the early season Callibaetis, so you will need to have plenty of size 18 imitations in all phases of this insects life cycle (nymphs, emergers, duns and spinners). To find this bug, search the sloughs and slow water stretches of the upper and lower Kilpatrick’s Pond. The fly is easily identified by its rhythmic bouncing just above the water as it prepares to lay its eggs. On windy days, try a size 16 or 18 Hackle Stackers along with a Quigley Cripple or the Callibaetis Floating Nymph. When the water is still, try Harrop’s Partridge Spinner or Harrop’s Cutwing Dun in a size 18. This is a beautiful time on the Creek and the fishing should improve as we head into fall.

Big Wood River
If you are looking for consistent action, then the Wood is the right choice. This river has been fishing well all summer and is just getting better. There is no need to go early, but once the fishing gets started mid-morning it stays good all the way until the sun leaves the water in the evening. This time of year the fish really spread out and can be found in every part of a run. Aggressive feeders will be right in the aerated heads of the riffles. Sippers can be found on the slow edges and in the seams as well as at the tailouts and slicks. Approach the water carefully and scan the water for feeders in the shallows. These fish can be spooky and you will need to use caution. In the bad light of autumn, I recommend using small Gulper Specials (18) with orange posts which show up nicely in the glare and light chop of riffles. Red Quills have been spotted in the South Valley and should make their way up river. Terrestrials have also been a good bet, especially hoppers and flying ants. Trailing a small size 16 or 18 Zebra Midge in red or black, a pheasant tail, Bishop’s Dynamite, or Rainbow Warrior can also be effective during slow periods. Also, Euro Nymphing is a great way to turn those missed takes into hookups. For a twist, try Euro Nymphing with a Tenkara Rod!

Big Lost River below Mackay
Above the reservoir, the Kokanee are running and river fishing, though limited since the reservoir is still high, is like fishing in Alaska. Where you find groups of red fish clustered together, you may find a rainbow in the mix. Below the reservoir flows are around 330 and may continue to drop over the next few weeks. Check the Idaho River Flows link on our website to see current flows. The cooler temperatures have moved the bug activity to the late morning and through the middle of the day. The afternoons can be fair to slow. For bugs you can expect to find a smattering of Tricos with the Baetis becoming the main player over the next few weeks. If you go, be sure to have Crane Flies, Tricos ( size 22-24), Baetis (size 18-20) and an assortment of nymphs such as King Princes (size 12, 14), San Juan Worms, Flashback Pheasant Tails (size 14, 16), Bishop’s Dynamite (size 14, 16, 18), Zebra Midge (size 16,18) and Rainbow Warriors (size 16,18,20).

Upper Big Lost
Not much has changed on this fishery. The reports are still spotty, but the best action is happening on the Main Stem of the Upper Lost. The river is low and the fish are spread out. The fishing is best from the middle of the day into the late afternoon. Don’t expect to see too many bugs and be prepared to cover a lot of ground to find fish. The Whitefish are eager to eat a fly and a few quality Rainbows, Cutbows, Brook Trout, and Cutthroat can be found as well. As I said last week, if you are looking for huge numbers of trout, stick to the Wood, but if you want to search gorgeous water for that one fantastic trout, give this a try. These fish are opportunistic feeders and will usually go for an attractor dry fly, but they may only give you one shot. Take along an assortment of your favorite attractor dry flies and nymphs as well as your standard parachute patterns: Parachute Hare’s Ear, Turk’s Tarantulas, PMX, Royal Wulffs, King Prince, Flashback PTs and Zebra Midge.

Salmon River
With the recent road closures due to the fire, really the only part of the river that is accessible is the stretch from Four Acres to the town of Stanley. For flies, I still like Yellow and Orange Stimulators even though the Stones are long gone and attractors such as Turk’s Tarantula as well as Hoppers work great. Also, the Spruce Moth is still a major player and can provide excellent dry fly fishing. Nymphs, such as Tungsten PTs and Dynamites in size 16 tied of the back of these big bugs will also be good producers.

Warm Springs & Trail Creek
These rivers are low and provide a great alternative for those seeking a small stream experience but don’t have the time to drive over the hill to the Upper Lost. Fish and Game has stocked these rivers around the bridges and anywhere the rivers near the road. If you wish to seek wild fish, just leave the beaten path and explore. Expect to see rusty Spinner, Caddis, Ants, Hoppers, and some Spruce Moths.

South Fork of the Boise
Really nothing new to report here…flows are still holding steady at 1800 CFS and fishing from a drift boat remains the best option until the water drops later this month. The bug activity has been slow to get going with a smattering of Flavs and Pink Alberts hatching in the early afternoon. A few beatis are beginning to make their midday appearance as well, especially on cloudy days. Your best option is to search the water with hoppers and a trailing nymph unless you find a fish feeding selectively on one of the above mentioned mayflies. Also, deep nymphing with caddis larva, PTs, and zebra midge can be a good option when no bugs present. Euro Nymping the shallower riffles has been very effective on whitefish and trout. You might try ripping a streamer through some deeper runs in search of a Bull Trout or an aggressive Bow.

Alpine Lakes
If you want to beat the summer heat, you might try hiking into one of our numerous Alpine Lakes. The midge hatches can be prolific and on windy days ants, beetles, and spruce moths will find their way on to the surface. Scan the edges for cruisers or look for fish congregated at the inlets and outlets. For an idea about where to go just inquire in our shop.

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Everyone should believe in something. I believe I’ll go fishing.~ Thoreau

photo by Bryan Huskey

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Posts Tagged ‘silver creek’

Fishing Forecast May 22nd – 29th

Fishing Forecast April 3rd – 17th

Fishing Forecast October 31st – November 14th

Fishing Forecast September 26th – October 3rd

Fishing Forecast September 5th – 12th

Fishing Report Archives

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