The second week of August and we still have a lot of great fishing opportunities to look forward to on the Big Wood, Silver Creek, the Big Lost and the other fisheries in the Valley and beyond. Keep in mind, with the smaller bugs and lower water, the fishing this time of year can tests your skills, so you might consider attending one of our free casting clinics to help give you the edge. Please also keep in mind that as the water drops and warms up that we treat the fish with respect by returning them quickly to the water.
The Big Wood
The Wood is still fishing quite well despite the low flows, but as August wears on and the flows continue to drop, expect the fishing to become more technical. To find continued success on the Wood, anglers will need to hone their casting, presentation, as well as hook setting skills. Also, one will need to utilize the same flies one might use on Silver Creek to fool the selective feeders. Tricos are hatching on the lower and middle river and the fish can be found rising selectively to this diminutive insect from mid morning into the afternoon. Micro Caddis, Western Quills, small Crane flies, PMDs, and Baetis are also present during the morning and into the afternoon. Small dries like Parachute Adams or Purple Hazes fished in the margins and shallow riffles will take fish when none are rising. Also, hoppers are turning fish when nothing else will. Still, nymphing remains the most productive with small Zebra Midge, Beaded Pheasant Tails, Rainbow Warriors, and Bishop’s Dynamite. A dry dropper rig is effective, but European Nymphing with multiple nymphs on a long leader is the most productive.
Silver Creek
The morning action on the Creek is still good, but the Trico and Baetis action is getting less predictable already with some mornings being better than others. Fortunately the hopper, damsel and beetle fishing continues to be good as the afternoon winds put a nice chop in the water and the Callibaetis continue to hatch despite the wind. The evening fishing remains productive with a good number of PMDs and Caddis bringing fish to the surface. To be successful during the Trico action in August, you will need to use smaller patterns like the size 24 Harrop’s Henwing Trico Spinner on fine tippet like the Trout Hunter 6.5X. Sometimes fishing the Harrop’s Callibaetis Spinner right through the Trico hatch can be most productive.
Big Lost River Upper & Lower
The Upper Lost is getting lower and you will need to cover a lot of water to find the quality Fine Spot Cutthroat, Rainbows, and Cut-bows that inhabit this fishery. Try to find water that has not been pressured the day before to find the best results. Attractor drys, like yellow and orange Stimulators or Royal Humpies will turn fish; however, it is best to have some smaller drys, like Parachute PMDs and Purple Haze in size 16 and 18 to fool the pressured fish. Nymphing is a good way to catch these pressured fish as well as tap into the abundant whitefish that are native to this waterway. Below Mackay, the flows are about 380 CFS and continuing to drop. While still a bit high, the flows are becoming more wadeable day by day. The Tricos are just getting started; take your assortment of Trico Duns and Spinners in white and black to find success during this hatch. When the hatch subsides be prepared to nymph the riffles and runs with small tail-waters nymphs or try skating a Crane Fly.
Warm Springs
Warm Springs is a fun small creek with a good wild fish population. Fish and Game does stock this river for put and take purposes, but please return all the wild you fish you catch. In August, the creek gets really low and requires stealth, fine tippets and small flies to catch these wily trout. During the day try dry dropper rigs with Stimulators and small beaded droppers. The best fishing is right before dark with caddis, Pale Evening Duns, or Rusty Spinners.
The Stanley Area
The larger fish on the upper and lower Salmon should begin to get more active as the Spruce Moth begins to hit the water. The water is low, but floating is still a possibility in the lower stretches and walk and wade fishing is fantastic in the upper reaches. Olive and tan Caddis work well as Spruce Moth patterns, but also have an assortment of parachute patterns in grey, tan and purple in size 14 and 12. These fish are gullible for standard beaded nymphs like pheasant tails, prince nymphs, stone fly nymphs, and hare’s ear nymphs, especially the whitefish, in size 16 to 10. Bear valley Creek and Marsh Creek have also been fishing well with hoppers, ants, nymphs and streamer patterns.
South Fork of the Boise
Look for the flows to drop slowly sometime between now and the first of September, but still the flows are best for drift boaters. The day time fishing will continue to be spotty with a smattering of Pink Alberts and Caddis with the best fishing occurring in the evening with a phenomenal Caddis emergence.
Local Ponds
Looking for a place to take your kids fly fishing for the first time….Lake Creek, Penny Lake and Gavers Lagoon have been stocked and are a great option for a family outing. The fish are getting tougher, but a smaller hook with Salmon eggs or small Zebra midge will catch fish.
High Mountain Lakes
Norton, Baker, Fourth of July, and Cain Lake…all our high mountain lakes are fishing well this time of year. If you want to escape the crowds of August, trying packing into the White Clouds, Pioneers or Sawtooths with a Tenkara rod with a puck full of beetles, ants and caddis. Come on in to the store and we will hook you up!
Shop our House of Harrop Fly selection!
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Silver Creek Tricos Baetis Callibaetis PMDs Caddis Damsels Hoppers Beetles Ants |
The Big Wood Tricos Micro Caddis Western Quills Crane Flies PMDs Baetis Purple Haze Parachute Adams Hoppers Zebra Midge Beaded Pheasant Tail Bishop’s Dynamite Rainbow Warriors |
Warm Springs Stimulators Caddis Pale Evening Duns Rusty Spinners |
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Lower & Upper Big Lost Yellow/Orange Stimulators Roral Wullfs Parachute PMDs Purple Haze Tricos Trico Duns Spinners Tail-waters nymphs Crane Flies |
South Fork of the Boise Caddis Pink Alberts Yellow Sallies Small Hoppers Caddis Larva Small Nymphs |
The Stanley Area Spruce Moth Olive & Tan Caddis Parachute Patterns Pheasant Tails Prince Nymphs Stone Fly Nymphs Hare’s Ear Nymphs Hoppers Ants Nymphs |
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High Mountain Lakes Beetles Ants Caddis |
Printable version of Dave’s Prescribed Flies
“If I fished only to capture fish, my fishing trips would have ended long ago.” – Zane Grey
