This past Saturday we saw an incredible brown drake emergence and spinner fall on Silver Creek. The big bugs appeared on lower Silver Creek from the Highway 20 bridge downstream to Point of Rocks. Waves of bugs appeared throughout the evening, and the trout responded. It seems as if the major hatch of the drakes is on its way out, but there will be a couple more nights of fishing. Don’t forget your headlamps and bug spray when fishing the evening spinner falls, and don’t leave the water too early. It would also be a good idea to blind fish rake patterns during the early mornings of the next few days, as the fish are looking for them.
Silver Creek remains the best game in town, and, in addition to the brown drakes, mayflies such as Blue-Winged Olives, PMDs and Callibaetis are found throughout the system. When nothing is hatching, fish terrestrial patterns such as small parachute ants in black or brown, black foam beetles, olive damsel nymphs, and small leech patterns.
Keep in mind that Silver Creek sees an uptick in angler traffic this time of year, given the presence of the brown drakes and the high water found on other rivers. Remember to treat your fellow anglers as you want to be treated.
Our freestone rivers and tailwaters remain too high to fish, and the snowmelt and runoff will continue for a couple more weeks. We’re still a few weeks away from fishing the Big Wood River and the upper Big Lost system, and the lower Big Lost will not be fishable until later this summer. The South Fork Boise River below Anderson Ranch Dam is the exception. Flows are hovering around 3000 CFS, which limits wading but allows for float fishing. Large black foam patterns that imitate cicadas, stoneflies, and Mormon crickets are a good choice, as are your favorite big, buggy nymphs; we suggest Prince Nymphs, Rubber Legs, Girdle Bugs, and 20-Inchers. Look for softer seams, eddies, pockets, and side channels to find feeding fish.
Happy fishing, everyone!
