“That sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness itself”
– Jane Austen
Rivers rise and seasons end. With sanguine expectation and burning patience, anglers must abide. This is a good time of year to take inventory of your gear and restock flies. Your next fishing adventure is just around the bend.
The Big Wood and South Fork of the Boise
Both are closed for the season but will reopen May 24th. The Wood is flowing high as the low altitude snow melts. The real runoff will begin in May and early June. You can expect the Wood to be very high and potentially off color on opening weekend. There may be some limited fishing opportunities in the side channels, but we can count on it being unwadable for much of June. Expect flows to come into wadable shape the first or second week of July. As for the Southfork of the Boise, expect the flows to be around 1600 CFS on opening weekend. These are good flows for expert drift boat anglers.
Silver Creek and Little Wood
The new regulations on the Creek are providing a great option for those looking for fishing close to home. Silver Creek from the Highway 20 bridge to its confluence with the Little Wood is open year-round. Also, the Little Wood in the Bear Track Williams area is worth a look. Flows can go off color as the low altitude snow melts, so keep your eyes on the USGS stream gauge. If you go, you may find surface activity during the pleasant part of the day. This will consist of a mix of midge and mostly Baetis. However, slow drifting suspended nymphs or swinging a weighted streamer off the bank, over the shallow shelves, and through the buckets is a good idea. The Creek in the Nature Conservancy and above Highway 20 will open on May 24th.
The Lost Below Mackay
Flows are steady at 95 CFS. As the irrigation season begins in May, these flows will increase, so be sure to check the flows before you go. Nevertheless, this fishery is open year round making it a great option for a full day outing. Look for a combination of midge and Baetis hatching in the afternoon. Take a good selection of midge in sizes 18-22 and Baetis in size 16-18 both dry and wet. Fish are spawning in the shallow riffles, so please wade with caution and leave them alone.
Upper Salmon Steelhead
The Steelhead has come to a close as of Wednesday, April 30.
Stillwater
The ice is off Mackay, the Little Wood, and Magic reservoir and these are a great option while the rivers in the region are mostly closed or experiencing high water. You might also consider a trip to Duck Valley as the weather starts to improve.
Silver Creek: Midge | Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | Small Pheasant Tails | Streamers
Big Lost: Baetis | Midge | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers
Stillwater: Balance Leeches | Sheep Creek Special | Woolly Buggers | Seal Buggers | Chironomids | Damsel Nymphs | Prince Nymphs
| Silver Creek | 124 cfs |
| Big Wood | 658 cfs |
| The Lost Below Mackay | 95.5 cfs |
| Salmon | 2130 cfs |
| South Fork of the Boise | 1620 cfs |
