“The goal of fishing is not just to catch fish, but to catch them with style.”
– John Gierach
While style is important, so is staying warm. Winter fishing style is more about function than fashion. A warm angler is a happy angler, and a happy angler catches more fish.
Silver Creek
The Nature Conservancy stretch of the Creek is now closed until the end of May. You can, however, continue to fish in Kilpatrick Pond below the bridge and around the Point of Rocks BLM access until the end of March. Now that the water has cooled, the hatch activity has all but disappeared. On cloudy, mild days you may still see some surface activity, mainly midge. Deep nymphing or slow pulling leech patterns is most effective.
Big Wood
Fishing the Wood in December is a great way to spend a wintery day. Match it with some early morning skiing and you have perfection. When seeking a spot to wet a line keep in mind the farther you’re willing to walk from the more accessible spots, the better the fishing will be. Look for deep, slow winter holding water and you’ll find fish. Nymphing tends to be the most effective method this time of year, and success depends on detecting the subtle takes. Start with a highly visible dry fly if you’re dry-dropper fishing, or give Euro Nymphing a try. In either case, a brief pause in the fly or line could signal a take—so be ready to set the hook!
South Fork of the Boise
There is winter weather in the forecast and this can make travel into the canyon very slick. If you go, take a 4X4 with studded snow tires, chains, as well as food and blankets. The flows are steady at 3006 CFS, perfect for wade fishing. As for the fishing, the hatch activity is sporadic, but decent trout can be found rising during the most pleasant time of day. Nymphing remains the more productive technique for both trout and whitefish.
The Lost Below Mackay
With Trail Creek Pass closed, it is worth the trek to Craters of the Moon, through Arco, and up to Mackay if you have a full day to spend fishing. The river is very low (57 CFS), which concentrates the trout in the deeper holding water. It will fish a lot like the Wood with your best success coming to dry dropper rigs or Euro Nymphing. There may be a small window of decent surface activity on cloudy, mild days.
Silver Creek: Midge | Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | Small Pheasant Tails | Streamers
Big Wood: Midge | Perdigones | King Prince | Streamers
Big Lost: Baetis | Midge | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers
South Fork of the Boise: Baetis | Midge | Caddis Larva | Stoneflies | Flashback Pheasant Tails | Streamers
| Silver Creek | 93.2 cfs |
| Big Wood | 111 cfs |
| The Lost Below Mackay | 59.2 cfs |
| Salmon | 980 cfs |
| South Fork of the Boise | 306 cfs |
