Saturday, May 24th, our local waters, including the Big Wood, Silver Creek and the South Fork of the Boise, open up to fishing. For me, the season opener is like Christmas. Silver Creek has been sitting under the tree like a wrapped present, and finally this weekend, we get to open it. The anticipation has been heightened by all the…
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The season opener is fast approaching, but if you are anxious to get out and fish there are several options outside the Valley from Carp fishing CJ Strike to chasing monster Browns on the Owyhee. For those waiting for the opener, keep checking the USGS water flows and long range weather forecast before you make your plans as conditions change…
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April showers brought more snow to our mountains and boosted our snow pack to 99% of average. This is astounding if you consider that three months ago the snow pack was at a meager 50% of average. This is great news for the summer water supply, the fish, and the fisherman. While it is difficult to predict, on average snow pack…
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Whether you are just learning or you are a seasoned angler, fly fishing always presents a challenge. Maybe you want to catch your first trout on a fly you tied or maybe your goal is to fool that one problem fish on a size 24 Trico. Ultimately, if we attain our particular piscatorial goals or they eludes us, it matters…
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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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“Hibernation is a covert preparation for a more overt action.” – Ralph Ellison Some fair-weather anglers prefer to spend the cooler months in a dormant state, remaining inactive, indoors, and away from water. But others scoff at hibernation and simply don more layers, top the flask, fill the thermos, and head to the river. There will be time for covert…
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“Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.” – Ernest Hemingway Bad anglers blame their fly. Good anglers, on the other hand, know the value of the right fly at the right time. But great anglers adapt their approach and embrace the variables of each moment,…
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