w
“Meet me at the creek, grab a beer and tap your feet.”
– Billy Strings
There is still time to grab some friends, some hot or cold beverages, and get into the rhythm of the fall while fishing your favorite water. Winter is nigh after all.
Silver Creek
The recent cold weather has concentrated the feeding and bug activity on the Creek. You will see primarily Baetis, maybe a few Mahogany duns, October caddis, and midge hatching. The surface activity occurs in a concentrated window from mid to late afternoon, the most pleasant time of day. The hatch can be robust or sparse depending on the day, but if there are bugs about, the fish will feed with gusto. As always, when targeting rising fish, use a long, light leader matched with perfect, drag free presentations. If the wind picks up, shorten your leader, use stouter tippet, and try terrestrials. Nymphing can be effective as well.
The Big Wood
The cottonwoods are turning and golden leaves are beginning to fall, drift, and come to rest in the deposition zones. The bug activity has been most active between noon until the sun leaves the water and consists mostly of Baetis. A keen observer will find fish in the tailouts, along the seams of fast water, and in the slower, gently flowing sections. If you find feeding fish, try a long leader paired with a small, high vis Baetis pattern. If there are no risers, try covering the water with a dry dropper rig. A caddis or Red Quill matched with a small perdigon is a good combo. Euro style nymphing is also effective.
Big Lost below Mackay
The water still has a tad of color to it, but the flows are low (145 CFS) making wading a cinch.There’s a solid midday hatch of Baetis, along with a few lingering Tricos and the fishing has been good. The trout are feeding actively in the riffles and the buckets. You can also sight fish for the larger trout feeding in the soft seams; however, they can be quite selective.
Upper Big Lost
The water is really skinny and cold. If you decide to go, head out in the afternoon and be sure to cover plenty of water. Look for the deeper runs and make every cast count. You will find the same fall fare here as you do on the Wood.
Salmon
The air temps are frigid in the morning, but once the day warms up, the Salmon is a great fall fishery. The hatches are sparse at best, so nymphing will yield the best results. Find a good pullout above or below Stanley and give it a go.
South Fork of the Boise
With flows at 300 CFS you can leave your boat behind, wading is the way to go. In the afternoon, keep an eye out for Baetis and midge, as well as some caddis, crane flies, and flavs. Nymphing is the most effective way to keep your rod bent; however, patient dry fly anglers are finding good action.
Local Ponds
Lake Creek, Penny Lake, or Gaver’s Lagoon are only fair as most of the stocked fish have been harvested.
Silver Creek: October Caddies 14,12 | Mahogany Duns 16 | Baetis 20-24 | Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | Small Pheasant Tails | Streamers
Big wood: Caddies 16,18 | Baetis 20,22 | Perdigones | King Prince | Streamers
Big Lost: Baetis 18,20 | Crane Flies | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers
Salmon: Hoppers | Caddis 16,18 | Chubby Chernobyl | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers
South Fork of the Boise: PMDs | Baetis | Rubber Legged Stones | Zebra Midge | Caddis Larva | Flashback Pheasant Tails | Streamers
| Silver Creek | 66.1 cfs |
| Big Wood | 145 cfs |
| The Lost Below Mackay | 175 cfs |
| Salmon | 511 cfs |
| South Fork of the Boise | 304 cfs |
