This Father’s Day weekend, take the path less traveled and head to the river. Make another memory with your dad that you’ll be talking about for years.

Silver Creek

The insect activity on the Creek remains decent with Baetis, Callibaetis, and PMDs hatching simultaneously. The timing, however, is shifting. On cooler days expect the hatch mid day through the afternoon. As the days warm up this week, the action will shift to early and late, a more typical summer pattern. You may also see crane flies, damsels, or caddis depending on your location and timing. In the evenings, caddis and smaller PMDs make an appearance. You will find decent fishing on dries before the wind picks up. If the wind blows, try ants or beetles along the banks. Nymphing dry dropper style with a small midge or Baetis pattern is a productive approach as well.

The Big Wood

The Wood dropped precipitously last week during the cool down, but has stabilized between 600 and 700 CFS. It should turn the corner and begin to drop towards summer flows. At this level, fishing is possible, but limited. The easy access points have been pressured, and crossing the river is still difficult to impossible. However, if you remain mobile and hit multiple access points you will find fish. This might be a good time to explore Warm Springs or Trail Creek as these two tributaries are very wadable. Bugwise, you will find a mix of stoneflies, caddis, and PMDs. You might also see some Green Drakes on the lower river.

Big Lost below Mackay

The flows are too high for safe wading. In general, at 350 CFS strong waders can make their way around the river; however, at 500 CFS and above fishing access is limited and wading difficult to impossible.

Upper Big Lost

The water is still very high, especially on the main stem of the Upper Lost. The North, East and West Fork are fishable, but access is limited and crossing is difficult. Flows start to come down soon and more water should open up over the next week.

Salmon River

Flows have stabilized and are perfect for floating. With warm weather in the forecast, the Golden Stones should explode this week. Wade fishing from the bank is possible; however, it is too high to cross and limited. You might also consider the Yankee Fork Dredge Ponds, Kids Creek Pond, Stanley Lake, or Alturas Lake; they have all been recently stocked.

South Fork of the Boise

The flows remain at just below 1,600 CFS. This is perfect for floating, but still limits access for wade fishermen. The fishing has been decent with large stonefly patterns and streamers. The Salmon fly hatch has begun on the lower reaches of the river and the evening caddis has been prolific.

Local Ponds

It is time to take the family to Lake Creek, Penny Lake, or Gaver’s Lagoon. All the ponds have been stocked and will receive regular stockings throughout the summer season.

Silver Creek: Baetis 20-24 | PMDs size 14 | Callibaetis 16,14 | Terrestrials | Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | Small Pheasant Tails | Streamers

Big Lost: PMDs size 16 | Yellow Sallies | Stoneflies | Baetis 18,20 | Midge 20-24 | Streamers

Big Wood: Green Drakes | Caddis | Chubby Chernobyl | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers

Salmon: Chubby Chernobyl | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers

Southfork of the Boise: Stoneflies | Baetis | PMDs | Midge | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers

Stillwater: Balance Leeches | Sheep Creek Special | Woolly Buggers | Seal Buggers | Chironomids | Damsel Nymphs | Prince Nymphs

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