“You forgive us and we’ll forgive you. We’ll forgive each other ’til we both turn blue. And we’ll whistle and go fishing in the heavens.”
– John Prine
There is no time like the present to learn how to fly fish. We have modified the format of our popular Fly Fishing 101 Class to meet COVID safe social distancing protocols and will be offering the three-hour outdoor class on Saturdays from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm.
Taught by Jim Sommercorn, Fly Fishing 101 is designed to give the novice angler a basic knowledge of fly-fishing. The cost is $95.00 per student.
The Big Wood
The Wood continues to fish well despite the heat. The trout, and the bugs they feed upon, prefer the most pleasant time of the day. With the lower than average flows on the Wood, along with daytime highs in the 80s to 90s, the pleasant times are early and late. Expect to see hatches of Baetis, Tricos, and PMDs in the morning. Caddis remain very good in the evening. Fishing small parachute patterns or dry dropper rigs in the shallow riffles or seams along the sides of the heavy water is best. This is not to say the fish won’t eat a big meal; hoppers are clicking all over the valley and are a good option when fishing during the heat of the day. Remember…with the low flows and warm water temps it is vital to return the fish to the water as soon as possible. Learning how to properly land and release fish is as important as learning how to read the water, cast, and set the hook.
Silver Creek
We are looking forward to another great week of morning action at the Creek. Expect to see Tricos, as well as Baetis, Callibaetis, and PMDs throughout the early morning. Now that we are a couple weeks into the early morning hatch, the fish can be very selective and a perfect drift matched with the right fly is a must to be successful. During the middle of the day, Damsels and Callibaetis are the main fare. Hoppers, beetles, and ants are also working if there is a slight wind chop on the surface. Remember, when fishing the Preserve, the visitor center remains closed. Look for posted information at each access allowing you to sign in via your phone with a QR code or by texting “Visitor” to (833) 593-0682.
Warm Springs and Trail Creek
With low flows, these are perfect small streams for easy wet wading. They are great places for kids and a family picnic combined with fishing. If you are stealthy, you will find plenty of fish willing to eat a dry. There are stocked fish around the bridges and campgrounds and plenty of wild fish in between.
The Big Lost Upper
The Upper Lost has seen a lot of pressure lately; however, anglers who are willing to walk long distances between fishable water will still find fish. But as the flows drop, it is time to start focusing on the lower East Fork, below the Wildhorse and the North Fork confluence. Take your favorite attractors and an assortment of nymphs and have some fun searching the water.
The Big Lost Lower
Due to demands for water downstream, the flows have gone as high as 450 CFS last week and are currently down to just under 400 CFS. These are high flows; it would be best to wait until the flows come down. Also, the fluctuating flows have made the hatches sporadic at best.
The Salmon
The flows are quite low, making the upper river very easy to walk and wade. Floating the lower river is still possible. Spruce moths are starting to make an appearance and a size 16 or 14 cream colored Elk Hair Caddis works well to imitate this bug. Focus on the areas that are heavily wooded with evergreens and you will find the moth. Small hoppers and stimulators are also very effective. Fishing dry dropper style with size 14-16 bead head nymphs is also productive.
Southfork of the Boise
The flows remain at 1200 CFS. This is still best fished from a drift boat; however, getting out and working the riffles and runs may be more effective as the bank feeders have been pounded. The main bugs are PMDs and Pink Alberts and the hatch is occurring late morning into the afternoon. Caddis are around mostly in the evening.
Local Ponds
Gaver’s Lagoon, Penny, and Lake Creek ponds have been stocked and make a great location for a family picnic.
Stillwater Options
If you are looking for a quiet alternative, try one of our local reservoirs. Magic, Mackay, and the Little Wood reservoirs can be fished either from shore or from a float tube; however, please be aware that strong afternoon winds can make boating/ tubing unsafe. As for techniques in all these reservoirs, try pulling a team of small leech patterns in black, brown or olive on an intermediate or type 3 or 5 sinking line. Also, suspending a series of nymphs at the right depth can also be effective.
Big Wood & Warm Springs: Chubby Chernobyl | Iron Lotus | SRS Bullet French Nymph | Duracell Jig 12-18 | Jake’s Perdigon 14-18 | Tungsten Nemec Stone | Pat’s Rubber Legs | Stone Daddy 8 | Bishop’s Dynamite | DB Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | King Prince
Big Lost: Crane Flies | Chubby Chernobyl | PMDs | Yellow Sallies | Iron Lotus | SRS Bullet French Nymph | Duracell Jig 12-18 | Jake’s Perdigon 14-18 | Tungsten Nemec Stone | Pat’s Rubber Legs | Stone Daddy 8 | Bishop’s Dynamite | DB Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | King Prince
Salmon: Chubby Chernobyl | Duracell Jig 12-18 | Jake’s Perdigon 14-18 | Tungsten Nemec Stone | Pat’s Rubber Legs | Stone Daddy 8 | Bishop’s Dynamite | King Prince
South Fork of the Boise: Chubby Chernobyl | Iron Lotus | SRS Bullet French Nymph | Duracell Jig 12-18 | Jake’s Perdigon 14-18 | Tungsten Nemec Stone | Pat’s Rubber Legs | Stone Daddy 8 | Bishop’s Dynamite | DB Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | King Prince
Silver Creek: Damsels | PMD | Callibaetis | Baetis | Tricos | Griffiths Gnats | Parachute Midge | Iron Lotus | SRS Bullet French Nymph | Jake’s Perdigon 14-18 | DB Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive
Stillwater Flies: Seal Buggars | Balanced Leeches | Bouface Leech | Snowcone Chironomids | Egg Patterns | Prince Nymph | Squirmy Worms
| Silver Creek Big Wood The Big Lost South Fork of the Boise Salmon River |
54.2 cfs 175 cfs 428 cfs 1190 cfs 1170 cfs |
