Now is the time to get out and hit our local waters. The weather forecast for the next week looks fantastic; high temps will be in the low to mid-40s daily. Fishing on the Big Wood, Big Lost, and Silver Creek should be very good, and expect to see excellent numbers of midges on all waters. Some Blue-Winged Olives have been showing up lately as well, and that hatch will get stronger as March progresses.
As mentioned, for dry-fly activity, midges are the name of the game at the moment. Long, light leaders (6X or 6.5X) are required when fishing midge imitations. Productive patterns include Griffith’s Gnats, Tie-Down Midges, Stuck Shuck Midges, Parachute Midges, and Zebra Midges, all in sizes 16–22. For BWOs, have a good supply of Film Critics, Last Chance Cripples, and Hackle Stackers in the same sizes as mentioned for the midge patterns. Streamers are still effective, particularly on overcast days or early and late in the day. It’s hard to beat a Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow when fish are aggressive, and a small black woolly bugger, leech, or zonker works when the creek’s trout are a little shy. Kilpatrick Pond has been fishing well for float-tubing anglers, and all the usual access points on the creek have been productive.
The Big Wood and lower Big Lost rivers really come into their own during March. The Wood River Valley’s version of “March Madness” is the midge activity on these rivers. On calm, mild afternoons, these rivers see hordes of midges, and lots of rising rainbows. These fish can be found along current seams, in foam lines and eddies, and in the slower tailouts of pools. Approach these rising fish as you would on Silver Creek—long, light leaders and stealth.
When fish aren’t rising, the March nymph fishing can be spectacular. Pattern choice doesn’t seem to be as critical at this time of year, but it’s hard to beat small Zebra Midges, Brassies, and Rainbow Warriors. Keep your eyes out for little black stoneflies and BWOs as well.
Another fishing option is the South Fork Boise River below Anderson Ranch Dam. Expect to see similar conditions as on the Big Wood and lower Big Lost.
March is a great month for local anglers. Get out and enjoy some of the finest fishing of the year.
Please remember that the Big Wood River and South Fork Boise River, along with Kilpatrick Pond on Silver Creek, close to fishing on April 1 and will remain closed until the Saturday of Memorial Weekend. Silver Creek downstream of the Highway 20 bridge will remain open to fishing year-round (as does the Big lost River).
Happy fishing everyone!
