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A wintry mix of weather is upon us this week. Slightly warmer days and some clouds should really kick the big Midge hatches into gear. If you haven’t fished rising fish on the Big Wood in the winter, this would be a great week to get out there and look for them.
Finding rising fish under these weather conditions is a matter of walking the river, and moving slowly. The rise form to the Midge is often subtle, but the fish should be podded up while they dine off of the surface.
Try to fish Griffith’s Gnats with Trailing Shuck patterns in two-fly combos. If you aren’t able to find rising fish, or you’ve started before or after the hatch, then try Streamer fishing. Large olive-colored Streamers are deadly in the winter. Fish these flies while staying on the move. Start at the top of the run. Fish across and downstream, retrieving the fly on a tight line. After every few casts, take a few steps downriver. Do this from the top of the run to the bottom.
Streamer fishing is also a great way to locate fish in the winter if they aren’t showing themselves. Fish will group up in the winter, so if you catch one in a small area, there are probably more. If you want to know where to go looking for rising fish when the Midge hatch is on, Streamers are a great way to prospect and learn where the winter holding water is throughout the Valley and throughout the individual runs.
Silver Creek is the place to be if you want to fish Streamers. The river remains open for catch-and-release fishing north (downstream) of the Highway 20 bridge. Fishing unweighted Streamers can be as visual as fishing dry flies, and the Creek is one of the best places to watch fish chase Streamers across the current!
There should be a few more anglers appearing on the water over the holidays. If you want more solitude, then try to branch out to other area rivers. The South Fork of the Boise can have decent Midge hatches, as well as the Lower Lost River.
Be prepared for winter travel if you head out for a day on our remote waters. Please tell someone where you are going, and ALWAYS be prepared to spend a night in your vehicle should the worst-case scenario arise.
Happy fishing, everyone!