Sun Valley Area Fly Fishing Forecast
January 8 – 22

Don’t wait for warmer days. With the flurry of the holidays complete, solitude awaits along the banks of the river. Just don’t forget to renew your license.

The Big Wood

The Wood saw considerable pressure over the holidays; however, for the next month, encountering another angler should be rare. The ongoing snowfall in the Valley is limiting access points, and those willing to wade through deep snow, away from the beaten down path, to reach the river, will find solitude and eager trout. The river fishes best this time of year from the Warm Springs confluence downstream. Even where the river is open, ice may line the banks, so using a wading staff to navigate both the ice and deep snow is recommended. If you go, there’s no need to start early—the best fishing window is in the afternoon, lasting until sunset. Winter midges are already active, but nymphing is still the most productive approach. Try small flies like beaded red, black, or green Zebra Midges in sizes 16-22. Surprisingly, larger nymphs can also be effective: Rubber Leg Stones in size 12, Beaded Pheasant Tails in size 14, or Prince Nymphs in size 12 or 14. Focus on slow, deep water—where you find one fish, there are often many more. As always, winter trout should be returned immediately to the water.

Silver Creek

Silver Creek below Kilpatrick Bridge remains open until the end of March. This time of year nymphing with a dry-dropper rig or an indicator will be most effective, particularly in the slow, deep runs. Try size 24-16 Pheasant Tail nymphs or olive and red Zebra Midges. Swinging black and olive leech patterns deep and slow can also produce good results.

The Lost Below Mackay

The drive from Ketchum to Mackay takes a little over two hours via Craters of the Moon and Arco, but the fishing and solitude make the trip worthwhile. Tactically, fish here much like the Wood with small midge patterns and, on snowy, cloudy days, try Baetis. Use dry dropper rigs in the shallow water, or opt for a double nymph rig with an indicator in the deeper runs. Tailwater fish can sometimes be selective, so dropping down in tippet size can often make a big difference. I recommend using light 6 or 6.5X fluorocarbon tippet to outsmart these selective trout.

South Fork of the Boise

January can be slow in the canyon, but it is still worth the trek. From Ketchum it takes about 90 minutes of windshield time to the river. As always, travel the canyon roads with a four-wheel-drive vehicle with studded snow tires or chains, and check road conditions before heading out. While fishing, focus on deep, slow runs for the best action, and be sure to have a variety of beaded and non-beaded midge patterns, as well as caddis larvae, stoneflies, and San Juan Worms. You may even find some fish feeding on the surface during the prime fishing window in the afternoon.

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