The Big Wood and the South Fork of the Boise are now closed for the season, but will reopen, along with Silver Creek, on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. All three of these fisheries will be interesting to monitor during the off season. On Silver Creek, the Restoration Project will be completed and Kilpatrick Pond will be refilled. How…
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Pursuing wild trout with a fly rod in hand is the best way to spend Spring Break. This is our version of March Madness...only around here we refer to it as Midge Madness. Three factors contribute to this mayhem: First, the fishing season on the Wood and the South Fork come to a close at the end of this month.…
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March in Sun Valley means spring snow in the mountains and in the valleys, great fly fishing. Ah, March! This is truly one of my favorite times to fish. If you have been hibernating, now would be a good time to come out of your winter cave and go fly fishing. The rainbows this time of year begin to feed…
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With spring only a month away, the days are getting longer and the average air temperatures can swing more than 20 degrees. During a typical fishing outing, the day will start well below freezing, reach into the 40s, and end below freezing as you exit the water. This can pose a problem when trying to dress for a day of…
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It looks like we are going to start the week with a cold snap and then move into a fairly snowy pattern through the middle of the month. While January was mostly dry with days reaching the 40s, it looks like February is going to deliver a dose of winter. We sure could use the snow in the mountains. I…
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One of the great challenges of winter fly fishing is dealing with glare. The low angle of the winter sun makes seeing your flies on the water difficult. One solution is to use flies that provide contrast to the low light conditions. It is a great idea to have a selection of High Vis parachute patterns to help when visibility…
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For some fly fishermen, long winter nights and frigid days are best spent tying flys and dreaming of warmer climes. For others, the winter is a bonus season offering short windows of great fishing. Whether you are going fishing tomorrow or waiting for summer, the winter season is also a good time to learn a few new tricks. In Boise,…
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For some, the concept of winter fly fishing seems oxymoronic. For the rest of us, winter fly fishing is synonymous with solitude. The river in winter is a transcendent place, a place where anglers can experience the Emersonian "transparent eyeball," observing the quietude of nature. However, nothing will end a winter fly fishing excursion faster than being ill prepared for…
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There always seems to be chatter this time of year about which ski town is the best. What makes Ketchum a great ski town? It is simple. The fact that you can ski in the morning on a world class mountain, fly fish the afternoon on the Wood, and still make it to the Pioneer for après cocktails by the…
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Santa, if you are listening, the winter fishing season is upon us and I have a few simple needs. To help me keep my feet toasty warm and my legs dry, a pair of SIMMS Bootfoot Waders is top of my list. Next are layers, lots of layers; from long underwear to fleece pants and jackets, I know SIMMS has…
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"Do you know why the Indian rain dances always worked? Because the Indians would keep dancing until it rained." – Sherman Alexie Despite a strong December and early January, the snow water equivalent around the region is between 60 and 80% of normal. While precipitation in April and May might help matters, it is very likely that we will be…
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"Spring is the time of plans and projects." – Leo Tolstoy Spring plans and projects should involve fishing in some form or fashion. Everything else can wait until the rivers swell with runoff or close for the season. Silver Creek This is the last chance to fish the Creek before it closes like the Wood and the South Fork. Tubing…
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