Snowpack on our local watersheds remains strong (at or above 100%), but we will take all the precipitation we can get during the next several months. Remember — the Idaho general fishing season closes after the last day of March.
On Silver Creek, fishing remains open on Kilpatrick Pond and downstream of the Highway 20 bridge. Now is the time to fish big streamers to predatory brown trout and swing dark leeches for the creek’s resident rainbows and browns. There has been good midge and BWO on select days, so it can be helpful to carry two rigs — one for streamers and one for dries. With milder weather in the forecast, the insect activity and dry-fly fishing on Silver Creek should really pick up.
Also closing at the end of March, the Big Wood River is still fishing fairly well. Midge activity will be most prevalent in the afternoon, so keep your eye out for foam lines, eddies, and slow current seams, as the tiny midges will be concentrated in these areas. Feeding rainbow trout can be fooled with long, light leaders and your favorite midge patterns in size 20–24. Trailing Shuck Midges, Griffith’s Gnats and Parachute Adams are all effective imitations. There may be some sporadic BWO activity as well, so be prepared with some imitations in size 16–22. When there is little or no surface feeding activity, nymphing can be extremely productive. A two-fly rig consisting of a larger attractor pattern such as Pat’s Rubber Legs, Girdle Bug, Montana Stone, Twenty-Incher, or Prince (size 6–10), followed by a small Zebra Midge, Brassie, Rainbow Warrior, Copper John, or Perdigon (size 16–22), is the way to go.
There are a limited number of days to fish our local tailwaters right now. The South Fork of the Boise will be closed at the end of March, so now is the time to make a trip below Anderson Ranch Dam. The Lower Big Lost River is going to be limited as well, and while it does remain open year-round, we can expect flows to increase during the month of April. All the same flies and techniques you use on the Big Wood will work well on the South Fork and the Big Lost; both waters can see excellent spring BWO and midge hatches in the afternoons.
Keep an eye out on weather conditions and river flows, as this time of year conditions can change rapidly. Idaho river levels can be found on the USGS website. Please give us a call at the fly shop to get an up-to-the-minute fishing report!
Happy fishing, everyone!