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Fishing ForecastFishing Report

Fly Fishing Forecast July 23-29

By July 23, 2015April 14th, 2018No Comments

“What is most important is not the equipment or the materials, it is the angler.”
~ Charles Jardine

Saturday, July 25th the newest gear from the top brands in fly fishing will be gathered in the backlot of Silver Creek Outfitters from 10 AM until 4 PM. This is a great opportunity to meet the manufacturers’ reps and talk about the gear you love. Come help us celebrate this great sport; come help us celebrate you, the angler!

SILVER CREEK
Just a year ago, the Nature Conservancy restricted access to the Creek due to low dissolved oxygen levels and high water temperatures. This year we have been blessed with cooler evening and day time temperatures along with intermittent rain. The fishing remains good with morning Tricos and Baetis. The spinner falls have been fairly consistent and begin around 9:30 AM. The fish are already very selective and very small Trico and Baetis spinner patterns in 22 and 24 are best. Also, slight tippets like 6.5 and 7X combined with a down stream presentation are a must. Before the bugs come down, fishing a Callibaetis spinner in a size 16 or 18 or a female Trico Dun in a size 20 or 22 can be effective. Once the hatch is done, look for more Callibaetis duns and spinners as well as Damsel flies, especially in the Pond. The Creek slows down during the heat of the day, but picks up again just before dark. The evenings have been good with a complex array of insects. Always have a few flies that are easy to see in the waning light.

THE BIG WOOD
The Wood has been best early and late. In the lower reaches, around Bellevue and Hailey, a few Tricos are beginning to hatch. This is the early phase of this hatch on the Wood and we are still a few weeks away until it really picks up momentum. You will also find Caddis, PMDs, and Pink Alberts. The flows are still a bit pushy, but strong waders can now access the entire river. The best fishing is along the slow sides of the seams with small (16 and 14) parachute patterns or with Dry Dropper rigs in the shallow riffles at the head of the runs. For flies try small (12-16) yellow Stimulators, Parachute Hare’s Ear, Adams, or Purple Haze trailed by a Rainbow Warrior, Zebra Midge, or Bishop’s Dynamite in size 16 or 18. The slowest time of day is the late afternoons, but the evening Caddis can be productive on mild evenings.

SOUTH FORK OF THE BOISE
Flows are holding at around 1,750 CFS, great flows for drift boat fishing. Of late, the Salmon flies and Cicadas have diminished. The main bugs are PMDs and Pinks and the hatch is occurring late morning into the afternoon. Caddis are still around, especially in the evening. Still, the most productive method remains nymphing with Stone fly nymphs, Caddis Larva, and Midge patterns with an indicator, dry dropper, or fished Euro Style.

LOCAL PONDS
Lake Creek, Penny Lake, or Gaver’s Lagoon are all great places to practice casting and catching. All the ponds have been stocked and will receive regular stockings throughout the summer season. Drop on by before you go or take your family fishing and we will make sure you have the right gear to be successful.

SALMON RIVER
The water levels are low but we are still floating the lower Salmon. If you don’t have a drift boat, hole hopping with your car is good way to go both below and above the town of Stanley. For flies, have a good supply of tan and olive bodied Caddis and yellow and orange Stimulators in size 12 and 14. Fishing dry dropper style with size 14-16 bead head nymphs is quite productive. If you are looking for an alternative to the Salmon, Valley, Marsh, and Bear Valley Creeks are all fishing well.

BIG LOST BELOW MACKAY
The flows are now at 340 CFS. At this level, fishing is improving but still not ideal. Wading remains challenging and certain runs are still to deep and fast to fish effectively. Try Rubber Leg Stones, San Juan Worms, and King Princes in the heavy runs. For the shallow water, try small nymphs like Zebra Midge, Bishop’s Dynamite, and Rainbow Warriors in size 16 and 18. Mid day there can a decent Baetis hatch with a few PMDs. This will bring fish up if you are in the right place at the right time.

UPPER LOST- COPPER BASIN
The water on the main stem of the Upper Lost is still a bit high, but more and more water is opening up each day. Search the water using a dry dropper rig with a Hopper dry or Turk’s Tarantula trailed by a Zebra Midge or Bishop’s Dynamite in size 16 or 18. When you do find fish but get refusals, quickly switching to a small Parachute Purple Haze or Pink Albert in size 14 or 16 is wise. Your best approach is to cover as much water as possible while looking for the magnificent cutthroat that reside in this river.

Big Wood

Big Lost

Silver Creek

Copper Basin

South Fork of the Boise

203 cfs

352 cfs

95 cfs

52 cfs

1790 cfs