“How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year!”
– Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Winter teaches the angler in a way no other season can. Patience and persistence are tested when winter’s chill freezes guides and stings fingers. However, the season’s adversities sweeten the reward.
Silver Creek
The hatch activity is sparse; however, on cloudy, mild days you may still see some surface activity. Deep nymphing with an indicator or slowly stripping a streamer is most effective. Remember, the Preserve portion of the Creek is closed for the season; however, downstream of Kilpatrick Bridge remains open until the end of March and from the Highway 20 bridge through Point of Rocks to the confluence of the Little Wood is open year-round.
The Big Wood
An unseasonable warm weather pattern has brought a ton of rain to the valley. As a result, flows on the Wood doubled, but should stabilize as a cooler pattern arrives before the New Year. With limited skiing on Baldy, the angling pressure will bump on the Wood. Fortunately, access is good up and down the Valley so it will be easy to find unpressured water. As for fishing, nymphing is the best option; however, you may find surface feeders in select locations. Be prepared with a dry dropper or double nymph with an indicator to cover all scenarios. Winter trout don’t like fast water, so concentrate on the slow buckets and seams. As always, winter trout need to be released quickly.
Big Lost Below Mackay
Despite the low snowpack, Trail Creek Pass is closed. A trip through Craters of the Moon, Arco, and up to Mackay is a great full day outing. The river is very low (50 CFS), which concentrates the trout in the deeper buckets. Try dry dropper rigs or Euro Nymphing. There may be a small window of surface activity on cloudy, mild days.
South Fork of the Boise
It has been wet in the canyon. Still, cell service is spotty and you don’t want to get stuck. Take a proper 4X4 with studded snow tires or chains, as well as food and blankets. The flows are at the standard winter level: 300 CFS. While the hatch activity is thin, decent trout can be found rising during the most pleasant time of day. If you want action, nymphing is the best for both trout and whitefish.
Silver Creek: Baetis 20-24 | Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | Small Pheasant Tails | Streamers
Big wood: Baetis 20,22 | Midge 22,24 | Small Perdigones | King Prince | Streamers
Big Lost: Baetis 18,20 | Midge 20-24 | Streamers
South Fork of the Boise: Baetis | Midge | Rubber Legged Stones | Zebra Midge | Caddis Larva | Flashback Pheasant Tails | Streamers
| Silver Creek | 137 cfs |
| Big Wood | 124 cfs |
| Big Lost Below Mackay | 91.0 cfs |
| South Fork of the Boise | 304 cfs |
