Synopsis
Fall is in the air as we transition between summer bugs and autumn bugs. This means be ready for just about anything on a daily basis. Fish are beginning to focus hard on the surface as cool nights tip them off to the smorgasbord of food that mother nature is about to provide. Good evening Caddis activity is still happening during the last hours of light, but bankers hours are going to become the norm in coming days and weeks.
Silver Creek
The Creek is still seeing a little bit of the Trico, and Baetis and Callibaetis are becoming the fly of choice for most of the Creeks denizens. Hoppers, Beetles and Ants are also still major players and the flying ant is out in force right now. A nice size 16 ant is a great choice these days, but Hoppers are still extremely effective as well. Look for the Baetis to hatch in the mornings and spin in the evenings, although plenty of them will reverse this order. Have plenty of small representations of this bug, all the way down to a size 24 for later this fall. Keep your fly floating high and change patterns as the bugs you see on the water change. Callibaetis is the focus in the afternoon with the slower waters near Kilpatrick Bridge taking front stage, as well as the sloughs! Try a size 16 or 18 Hackle Stackers, Quigley Cripple and the Callibaetis Floating Nymph in these areas.
Big Wood River
The Wood is still fishing well with Hoppers and Flying Ants are the masking hatch of the month right now, so if you are getting denied by the fish, try a nice size Ant with a parachute for visibility. If this doesn’t work, start thinking Micro-Caddis and Rusty Spinners for rising fish. When searching the water, a Hopper or big attractor is a good bet. Royal Wulffs, Gray Wullfs, Royal Stimulators and Trudes are all good choices. When in doubt, trail an ant behind one of these flies. Parachute Adams in a variety of sizes is also indispensable this time of year, as the parachute Adams will match just about any insect as long as you have a variety of sizes. Tricos and Baetis are still around most mornings, so little Silver Creek patterns are a good idea to keep with you on the water. Be ready for the Fall Baetis with plenty of tiny size 22 and 24 Baetis patterns. We’re not quite there yet, but this little bug will be showing in force very soon!
Lost River
It took the Lost 5 days to go from 500 CFS to 450 CFS. This means by the middle of next week we should have outstanding access to this great piece of water. Nymph rigs that have at least one fly that is red in color are the most effective. Baetis should come on very strong here in the coming weeks as well.
Upper Lost and Copper Basin
This area is seeing less and less anglers as we move toward the Fall, but the bite has also dropped off up here. Anglers with good casting skills, who can cover a lot of water in a short time are going to catch plenty of fish. Anglers that stand in a run and cast repeatedly over the same areas will find less luck. Hoppers, Ants and Attractors are all one needs. The fish aren’t fussy, just tricky to find and to get a cast over as they become structure oriented in the thinning water.
South Fork of the Boise
The fishing was starting to drop off this past week, but they have finally changed the outflow from the summer long 1650 CFS to 1,000 CFS. This may get the fish back on the bite as more holding water along the banks will open up for them. This is also a very boatable flow still, so don’t put the oars away yet! Pink Alberts, Hoppers and Ants are the fly of choice right now. Fall Baetis is on its way.
