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Anglers should see a crazy mix of high and low pressure this week. The sun will pop back and forth between the clouds, making for fishing that should turn off and on quickly. Be prepared for these rapidly changing conditions. Be sure your dry-fly box, your nymph box and your streamers are all with you.
Anglers need to stay aware of fly color. When the conditions are changing, success is going to depend on you changing your tactics just as quickly. Fishing bright colors when it is bright and dark colors when it is gray outside will produce more fish than just staying with one fly pattern through changing weather.
The Big Wood is in prime winter season right now. Expect decent dry-fly action this week when the wind is down and especially when we have cloud cover. Be sure to search waist-deep riffles, eddies and heavy foam lines for trout heads poking up. Anglers that want to fish dry flies need to move up the river slowly and take a few minutes to just watch the water for trout that give themselves away. If the weather doesn’t produce good dry-fly action, we would suggest going straight to your streamer box!
Silver Creek is in prime winter shape, as well. The waterfowl season has ended, so nobody is on the Creek but anglers. It is streamer fishing season on the Creek. Fish unweighted streamers from the bank. Cast across and retrieve your fly with the tip down on the water. Watch for the chase or the boil when the fish eats your fly. When you set the hook, use a combination between a strip strike and a trout set. Set the hook quickly and with force.
The Lost River and South Fork of the Boise may be worth a look this week, as driving conditions seem to be OK. With that said, please check current conditions before you go. If it is bright and sunny, still be sure to check the wind. Heavy winds can drift the snow over these highways even on blue-sky days. If you go, just take all your same winter fly boxes. Treat these fisheries the same way you would fish the Big Wood. Go slow, watch for heads and then decide what to fish. Once you catch fish on a certain technique or color, stick with it!
Be safe out there and fish with a friend in the winter.
Happy fishing, everyone!
