Steelhead fishing is rapidly approaching. The weather has still been cold, but the days are getting longer and the fish are starting to move up the river. There are fish in the upper river between Yankee fork and Stanley, but most of these fish wintered over in the deeper holes in the area. The main group of fish is moving…
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As I write this, a light snow is falling and the temperature is around 34 degrees. On many days like today, you can find some of the best fishing of the winter and early spring. Big Wood river rainbows will be found feeding on or near the surface, especially with very little sun. My favorite patterns are the Trailing Shuck…
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The Big Wood is fishing better as we move into February. There are more surface feeding fish on certain days. I like using 6x and small midge patterns in different stages. My favorite is the trailing shuck midge. This pattern works on the surface, but will also take fish sinking a little. I always start by trying to fish it…
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The Big Wood River The most consistent winter fishery we have. Expect to see midges on snowy overcast days and fish working on the surface. Sunny days are usually not as good this time of year. I like the Trailing Shuck Midge, Griffith's Gnat and small parachutes to imitate the surface offerings. You'll need to fish these flies on 6x…
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The Big Wood River is hit and miss this time of year. Best fishing is late afternoons or the warmest part of the day. Overcast days help and on some days there are midges coming off with the fish on or near the top. A Trailing Shuck Midge in sizes 20-22 will take fish working on or near surface. You'll…
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Synopsis As we roll through September, the weather is offering up some perfect conditions for anglers. This week, we will continue to see more of the same bugs we have started to see this fall: Baetis, Callibaetis, Caddis, Red Quills and Mahogany Duns, as well as more of the terrestrials that frequent the banks. Warmer mid-day temperatures are giving the…
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Synopsis As we move into our second week of the month, the fishing should prove steady. Our weather patterns will be less predictable, so be prepared for anything. If you find the water a bit stained or off color from the recent rain, don't hesitate to nymph with Princes or Pheasant Tails. Changing weather patterns bring hatch patterns that require…
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Synopsis Fly fishing the Northern Rockies in September is an extremely enjoyable experience. With the heat of summer mostly behind us, the shorter days and cooler temperatures bring out new hatches and a return to larger insects such as the Western Red Quill, the Mahogany Dun and October Caddis. The Fall Baetis, although diminutive in size, becomes a behemoth in…
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Synopsis As August comes to a close, Angling in and around the Wood River Valley continues to be very good. The morning activity at Silver Creek remains consistent and terrestrial fishing is still producing well in the afternoons. The Big Wood, Big Lost, South Fork of the Boise and the Salmon Rivers are also fishing well with good dry fly…
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Synopsis Whether you are fishing our meandering valley river bottoms or the alpine lakes high above, fly fishing in central Idaho is absolutely excellent at the moment. Trout are feeding aggressively on the various mayfly and caddis floating down our local freestones and the morning activity at Silver Creek is at its annual peak. Mornings and evenings lend themselves to…
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"Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day." – A.A. Milne The snow is busy coming down from the mountain tops making the rivers flow fast and furious. Anglers know this: there is no hurry to get to the river. Let the run off play out. And when the water does recede, the playbook for…
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"No winter lasts forever, no spring skips its turn." – Hal Borland The voice of life, being, and becoming is about to roar. Warm weather is in the forecast which should accelerate the melt, especially of the low altitude snow. In the Wood River drainage the current snow water equivalent is a tad over 200%. As stated in the previous…
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