“You just had to be still and have faith, that was the main thing.”
– Jim Dodge, Fup
Being still and having faith is not just about waiting for a fish to take. But that is a good place to start.
Silver Creek
On warmer days, the mornings can still be good with a smattering of Tricos and decent numbers of Baetis. However, the midday Callibaetis hatch has been consistent and should continue through September. Be sure to have a good selection of Callibaetis patterns (size 16 and 18) in multiple stages of this insect’s life: nymphs, emergers, cripples, duns, and spinners.The Callibaetis emergence usually coincides with the afternoon breezes which can actually be to the anglers benefit as the larger fish lose all inhibitions. Lastly, with cooler weather in the forecast, it will not be long and we will see some Mahogany Duns along with October caddis.
Big Wood
The Wood is fishing well from mid morning and into the late afternoon. Some Tricos can still be found on the lower reaches; however, like the Creek, the Wood is transitioning into Fall mode. Over the next several weeks, expect Fall Baetis to become more of a factor. Have a good selection of high vis Baetis in size 18 and 20 as well as some of the ones you might toss down at the Creek. We will also start to see more Red Quills, especially with cooler days in the forecast. If neither of these bugs are about, you will still find a good assortment of caddis, crane flies, and fly ants fluttering around into the late afternoon. Nymphing is really productive this time of year with a dry dropper rig or Euro Style. Don’t forget to try running a hopper through some fast riffles this time of year as well.
South Fork of the Boise
The flows are holding at 600 CFS, which is perfect for wade fishing. Expect a smattering of Flavs, Baetis, caddis, and possibly Pinks hatching midday into the evening. Nymphing with caddis larva, PTs, and Zebra Midge can be a good option when no bugs are present. Euro Nymphing the shallower dancing water has been very effective for whitefish and trout. You might try pulling a streamer through some deeper runs in search of a bull trout or an aggressive rainbow. On a side note, flows typically drop to 300 CFS around the 15th of September.
The Lost Below Mackay
The flows remain at 400 CFS. We may see the flows decrease as the demand for water drops over the next week. There are still Tricos mixed with Baetis hatching as the day warms up, and giant crane flies will turn fish. In the afternoon the bug activity slows and nymphing can keep you in fish with small Baetis or midge patterns.
Upper Big Lost
The water is low and cold on the Upper Lost. Plan on covering a lot of water and focus on the areas where there is enough depth and structure to hold fish. As always, don’t expect huge fish numbers, but the quality of the fish being found on the main stem of the Upper Lost is fantastic. You will need to be stealthy in your approach and use small patterns to fool these seasoned trout.
The Salmon
The Wapiti fire is still active, but Stanley seems to be out of immediate danger and anglers have been returning to the river. If you go, expect the water to be low and cold. Start with a leisurely breakfast and then go in search of a good pull off along the river. Try an assortment of attractor drys in size 12 through 16. Also, a size 12 tan or olive Elk Hair Caddis works well to imitate the Spruce Moths along the banks of wooded water. Nymphing has also been effective, especially for whitefish.
Local Ponds
Lake Creek, Penny Lake, or Gaver’s Lagoon have been stocked recently.
Silver Creek: Tricos | Beatis | Callibeatis | Mahogany Duns | Crane Flies | Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | Small Pheasant Tails | October Caddis | Hoppers
Big Wood: Caddis | Red Quills | Tricos | Hoppers | Rubber Legged Stones | Perdigones | King Prince | Streamers
Big Lost: Tricos | PMDs | Craneflies | Chubby Chernobyl | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers
Salmon River: Spruce Moth | Chubby Chernobyl | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers
South Fork of the Boise: Zebra Midge | Caddis Larva | Flashback Pheasant Tails | Streamers | Pink Alberts | Baetis
| Silver Creek | 79.6 cfs |
| Big Wood | 127 cfs |
| The Lost Below Mackay | 400 cfs |
| Salmon | 701 cfs |
| South Fork of the Boise | 608 cfs |
