“A fly delicately done and with a subtle marriage of colors can possess value apart from its ability to take trout.”
– Darrel Martin
First, a fly must capture the imagination of the angler. Then, when tied to the end of a gossamer leader and delicately delivered, a fly’s true value is realized. A fly’s magic is in its ability to twice deceive.
Silver Creek
Most of the ice along the edges of the creek have dissipated. When fishing, the best approach is to walk the bank and search for a sipping trout. Approach with caution and fish with a long leader and light tippet. If you find no fish feeding, try fishing deep and slow with nymphs around the obvious buckets or slow stripping streamers off the bank. Remember, the Nature Conservancy is closed, but the Creek from Kilpatrick’s Bridge down remains open until the end of March.
Big Wood
February on the Wood is lovely. With the longer days and the milder daytime temperatures, the winter midge activity will gain momentum. And since we have had no snow since early January, access up and down the river is much easier. Also, with the temperature inversion starting to fade, much of the Wood is now ice free. If you go, have a good assortment of midge patterns spanning every stage of this prolific insect’s life: trailing shuck midge, Griffiths Gnats, and high vis parachute midge patterns in size 18- 24. If no surface activity can be found, be prepared to fish dry dropper or Euro style. This is also a good time to swing a brown bugger to imitate the Big Wood Sculpin.
The Lost Below Mackay
With Trail Creek Pass closed, it takes over two hours to make the trip through Craters of the Moon, Arco, and up to the town of Mackay. With the days getting longer, this is a good option. The fishing can be productive this time of year and with the low flows (75 CFS) you will find plenty of fish in the slow buckets.
South Fork of the Boise
The river is holding steady at 300 CFS and should remain at this level until the river closes at the end of March. Now that the sun hangs in the sky a tad longer, it is certainly worth the trip to this wonderful late winter, early spring fishery. Dries can be hit or miss, but those willing to dead drift a nymph will be rewarded with lots of whitefish and a few trout.
Silver Creek flies: Adult Midge | Zebra Midge | Quilldigon | Streamers
Big Wood flies: Midge | Bullet French Nymph | Roza Perdigons | Sexy Walts | Quilldigon | Bishop’s Dynamite | Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | Streamers
Big Lost flies: Baetis | Midge | Sexy Walts | Bullet French Nymph | Lite Brite Perdigons | Pheasant Tail | Bishop’s Dynamite | Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | Pat’s Rubber Legs
South Fork of the Boise flies: Baetis | Midge | Sexy Walts | Bullet French Nymph | Lite Brite Perdigons | Pat’s Rubber Legs | Bishop’s Dynamite | Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive
| Silver Creek | 91.5 cfs |
| Big Wood | 110 cfs |
| The Big Lost | 75.3 cfs |
| Salmon River | 917 cfs |
| South Fork of the Boise | 295 cfs |
