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Welcome to summer! What a great time to be an angler in the Wood River Valley. Flows are dropping on our freestone rivers, and Silver Creek continues to fish well as the weather heats up.
The Big Wood River is still high at just under 1,000 CFS, but it has been very productive during the afternoons with the appearance of the Green Drake. Fish have been keying in on this robust mayfly and will readily take a variety of Green Drake imitations fished in shallow riffles, current seams, back eddies, and side channels along the Big Wood. In addition to Green Drakes, Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies and a few Salmonflies are available on the Big Wood, so it pays to fish large, bushy dry flies like Chubby Chernobyls, Fat Alberts, and Stimulators. Trailing these large dries with larger Green Drake nymphs, Princes, 20-Inchers, Rubber Legs and Copper Johns will take plenty of fish as well. Streamers have been productive in deeper pools and back eddies found throughout the river.
The lower Big Lost River in Mackay has slowly dropped to around 600 CFS, but is still high, swift, and difficult to navigate. Some PMDs, Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies and Green Drakes have been found on the river, and if you can find softer water, chances are you’ll find a few good fish feeding.
The upper Big Lost River system is still high as well, but steadily coming down. Look for big stoneflies, PMDs, and caddis throughout the mainstem, East Fork and North Fork. Keep in mind that fish within these waters tend to move quite a bit, so cover water thoroughly until you find concentrations of fish. In addition to big dries with dropper nymphs, big Cutts love streamers like a Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow fished in the deeper pools and runs.
Remember to use caution while wading these fast-flowing rivers, and leave your fishing dog at home until flows drop to safer levels.
Silver Creek is seeing a variety of bugs at the moment. Mornings are dominated by small Blue-Winged Olives (size 20-22) and Tricos (size 22-24). As the day heats up, look for Callibaetis (size 14-18) and adult damsels. Ants and beetles continue to produce. Toward evening, small BWOs, a few PMDs, and caddis can be found throughout the river.
We’re seeing amazing numbers of baby hoppers here in the Picabo area, so it won’t be long until we’re in the middle of a fantastic hopper season.
Happy fishing, everyone!
