“Fly fishing surely gives meaning to my life, but not nearly so much as life gives meaning to fly fishing.” ~Peter Kaminsky It is February. The sun hangs in the sky a bit higher and longer; the alternating thaw and freeze is turning the snow to corn. There is a spring like awakening occurring within the river, the trout, and…
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"The image of giant mayflies backlit by a broad Western sunset is a sight that can never be forgotten. And when the audible rise of trout that may not be interested in surface feeding at any other time is added to the picture, you begin to understand the special summer event that Brown Drakes have come to represent." ~ Rene…
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"What a tourist terms a plague of insects, the fly fisher calls a great hatch." ~ Patrick F. McManus Fly Fishing Forecast May 27th to June 3rd Despite the rain and cool weather, a few Brown Drakes have been spotted on the lower river. This slow trickle of insects is a good sign that the "plague" is just on the…
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"The pleasure isn't in the doing of the thing, the pleasure is in planning it." ~ John Green, Paper Towns Fly Fishing Forecast May 13th to May 20th Two weeks till opening day...May 23rd! Now is the time to plan. Start with a gear check: Do your waders need repair? Do you need to replace the studs on your wading…
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"But pleasures are like poppies spread, You seize the flower, its bloom is shed; Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white then melts forever." ~ Robert Burns The run-off started early this year since March came in like a lamb. However, April has come in like a lion, and we we have received some more high…
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"Never make predictions, especially about the future." ~ Casey Stengel The Big Wood Basin snow water equivalent is at 70% of normal as of March 16th. For those already looking ahead to summer, all signs are pointing to an early and moderate run off and a good early fishing season on our local waters. In the meanwhile, the steelhead are…
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"Wet boots are a way of life." ~ Austin McPherson March is a great month to get your boots wet. While the Creek is now closed, the Wood is just hitting its late winter, early spring stride. Our area tailwaters, the Lost and the South Fork of the Boise, also fish fantastic in March. And it won't be long now…
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"It is the constant--or inconstant--change, the infinite variety in fly-fishing that binds us fast. It is impossible to grow weary of a sport that is never the same on any two days of the year. " --Theodore Gordan The Winter Midge activity keeps gaining momentum and surface feeding trout can be found throughout all our rivers. And with each passing…
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"To go fishing is the chance to wash one's soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of sun on blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature, charity toward tackle-makers, patience toward fish, a mockery of profits and egos, a quieting of hate, a rejoicing that you do not…
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"Well, if it rains, I don't care/ Don't make no difference to me..." -The Doobie Brothers Fisherman are a patient lot. The rivers we fish have taught us this trait. One moment the Creek is too low and the water temps too high. So we wait. The next moment, rain has swollen the Wood and turned it brown. We keep…
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