We hope that all of you had a very Happy New Year! Thank you to all of our friends, clients, and customers for making 2024 a great year at Picabo Angler; cheers to another great year in 2025!
Silver Creek has been “hot” on some days and “cold” on others. If you’re fishing it during the right conditions (calm, overcast, mild days), the winter streamer bite can be quite good. A good rule of thumb to follow in regard to fly selection is “bright day, bright fly and dark day, dark fly.” Typically, fishing your streamers on a slow, steady swing will produce more action than actively stripping and moving your fly. Dark leech patterns have been the ticket lately.
It’s a bit cold on the Big Wood River at the moment, so concentrate your fishing during the warmest part of the day. Ski in the morning, and fish in the afternoon! Nymphing with tiny midge pupa imitations, BWO nymphs, and small black stonefly imitations is the way to go. Trout love to group together during the winter in slower, softer water; find a few of these winter holes and you can be into fish all day long.
The South Fork of the Boise River has been fishing well for those willing to make the trek, with stable winter flows of 300 CFS. Before you go, check the road conditions and the weather; the road into the canyon can be treacherous during heavy snow, ice, and bad weather. Don’t forget your tire chains, survival kit, and extra food and water. Nymphing is the name of the game right now, and it’s hard to beat a big stonefly nymph followed by your favorite midge pupa. A big, meaty streamer fished low and slow in some of the deeper holes can produce a big fish or two.
The weather pattern looks stable for the next week or two, so the fishing should be productive during the afternoons. Give us a call with any questions and for up-to-the-minute fishing reports on all of our area waters.
Don’t forget to purchase your 2025 fishing license!
Happy fishing, everyone!
