“It happened in Sun Valley/ Not so very long ago/ There were sunbeams in the snow/ And a twinkle in your eyes/ I remember oh!”
– Glen Miller
This is a wonderful place to make memories that last a lifetime. Let the river be part of your story this March.
The Big Wood
As you can imagine, with the World Cup this week, it is going to be busy around town and on the mountain. It might be a good idea to sneak out to the river. Still March is a popular time on the Wood and these are the last couple weeks to fish before it closes for the season. If you go, be respectful of other anglers and give each other space. Parking access is fair up and down the river and there is plenty of room to spread out. As for the fishing, the trout and the midge usually get active by midday so there is no hurry to hit the water early. Cover likely water with a dry-dropper, Euro, or an indicator nymph set up. When you find some surface feeders, be prepared to switch to a stealthier approach as these fish can be very selective. Use a long leader and light tippet with a trailing shuck midge or a non-beaded midge pattern just beneath the surface.
Silver Creek
There are new regulations on the Creek allowing for year round angling. Kilpatrick pond is open until March 31st and Silver Creek from the Highway 20 bridge to its confluence with the Little Wood is now open year-round. If you pick a mild day and have proper insulation, putting a tube in on the pond is not a bad way to spend the afternoon. You may find surface activity during the pleasant part of the day; however, slow drifting suspended nymph or swinging a lightly weighted bugger off the bank, over the shallow shelves, and through the buckets is the best approach.
The Lost Below Mackay
If you want to escape the crowds, a trip to the Lost is worth the four hours of windshield time (from Ketchum and back). The hatches on the Lost this time of year are a combination of midge and Baetis and on the right day they can be spectacular. You will need a good selection of midge in sizes 18-22 and Baetis in size 16-18 both dry and wet. Some fish are already spawning in the shallow riffles so please wade with caution and leave them alone. Unlike the Wood, the Lost does stay open all year.
South Fork of the Boise
This river also closes on the last day of March. It fishes really well this time of year, and is currently flowing at 300 CFS, perfect for wading. You will find midge and some Baetis hatching during the warmest part of the day with some nice trout scattered about feeding. Take your traditional tailwaters midge and Baetis patterns if you go head hunting or nymph the dancing water with stoneflies and beaded midge patterns.
Upper Salmon Steelhead
The Sawtooth Fish Hatchery is not yet reporting, but it is not unusual to see some fish around the Pahsimeroi this time of year. If you are interested, come on into the shop for the latest reports and to check our full selection of steelhead flies.
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 | 151 cfs |
| Big Wood | 166 cfs |
| The Lost Below Mackay | 84 cfs |
| Salmon | 1080 cfs |
| South Fork of the Boise | 308 cfs |
