Fly Fishing Forecast
July 14 – 21

The hotter than average weather persists and water levels continue to drop. Cool evening temps have helped, but temps are fluctuating 10 to 12 degrees during the day. Temps that begin in the high 50s can soar to the high 60s or low 70s during the heat of the day. This means it is vitally important that you pay close attention to the water temperatures while fishing. While water temps in the 50s and low 60s are optimal for fish and fishing, once water temps hit 67 degrees take the rest of the day off or seek a fishery with cooler temps. As always, pinch your barbs, land fish quickly, wet your hands (or use a Ketchum Release), and keep the fish in the water.

Silver Creek
Access to the Silver Creek Preserve remains closed to fishing until conditions improve. Kilpatrick Pond is also closed to both the public and Double R members. In fact, the Nature Conservancy has requested that the public also refrain from floating through the Preserve to reduce stress on the trout. With the forecast calling for day time temperatures in the high 90s, it is very difficult to predict how long this closure will be in place. Along with water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO) is a key factor in the health of Silver Creek’s trout. During the daytime, DO is introduced into the water mostly by aquatic plants photosynthesizing. At night, those same plants will respirate; consuming oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide into the water. On the Creek, although water temperatures will seem ideal early in the morning, this period has some of the lowest DO concentrations. This is just as stressful on the fish as the 70 degree water temperatures which have been occurring later in the day. In order for the Creek to reopen, we will need a cooler weather pattern for a period of time which will lead towards less stressful conditions for the trout.

Big Wood
The Big Wood is currently flowing at 160 cubic feet per second in Hailey. The fishing is technical and requires strong casting skills and line management to be successful. Look for decent bugs in the morning including pale morning duns, blue winged olives, golden stones, crane flies, and even some early tricos. Fishing is best from 9:00 am until about noon. Water temperatures start in the high 50’s and may go into the low 70’s during the afternoon and evening. Stop fishing once the temps hit 67 degrees and always keep the fish wet.

Lower Lost
Mackay Reservoir is very low and the flows below are starting to drop a bit. Since the water coming from the bottom of the dam is warming in the shallow reservoir, the water temps are not dropping significantly over night like the local freestones. As a result, the water temps are very high and the fishing window is short. The best fishing is in the morning when the temps are in the low 60s. By the early afternoon, the temps can reach into the high 60s or low 70s.

Upper Lost River
The mornings have been cool, dropping the river temps to the high 40s and low 50s in the morning. While the water temps are decent throughout the day, the water is extremely low and this area has been receiving a lot of fishing pressure. However, if you are willing to cover a lot of water, you will find fish.

The Salmon
Like all our rivers, the Salmon is lower and warmer than average. There is still good fishing in the morning and decent hatches of caddis and stoneflies. Expect to see some golden stones, caddis, and even some early spruce moths.

Southfork of the Boise
Flows have dropped to around 1200 CFS. Drifting is still your best option with a few spots to wade along the roadside. You should see Salmon flies and some Pink Alberts during the day and caddisflies in the evening.

Local Ponds
Lake Creek and Penny have been stocked and are ready for a family picnic and some fishing.

Big Wood: Alt RKR PMD | Stimulators | EZ Caddis | Bullet French Nymph | Roza Perdigons | Sexy Walts | Quilldigon | Bishop’s Dynamite | DB Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive

Big Lost: Golden Stones | Apple Green PMD | Baetis Sparkle Duns Harrop | Sexy Walts | Bullet French Nymph | Tasmanian Devil | Roza Perdigon | Lite Brite Perdigons | Roza WW Pheasant Tail | Bishop’s Dynamite | DB Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive

Salmon: Chubby Chernobyl | EZ Caddis | Spruce Moth | Tasmanian Devil | Roza WW Pheasant Tail | Bishop’s Dynamite | Lite Brite Perdigons | Pat’s Rubber Legs

South Fork of the Boise: Chubby Chernobyl | Caddis | Sexy Walts | Bullet French Nymph | Lite Brite Perdigons | Pat’s Rubber Legs | Bishop’s Dynamite | DB Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive