A recent cool spell has brought respite from the summer heat, with mild daytime temperatures and cool nights. A bit of rain, along with cooler temperatures, has helped refresh our local waters.
Mornings at Silver Creek have been good, with BWOs and Tricos the main players. Look for good emergences and spinner falls of BWOs, and on select days and locations an abundance of Trico spinners. Both bugs are small (size 20 – 24), and require long, light leaders to make delicate presentations. We will see a steady decline in Tricos as we head into the latter part of this month. Callibaetis are still found on the Creek during the late morning and early afternoon, and there has been good damsel activity as well. Afternoons on the Creek are dominated by terrestrials – beetles, ants and, to a lesser degree, hoppers.
On the Big Wood River, we are still seeing some Trico activity in the morning, and standard small attractor dries fished in the heads of riffles are taking plenty of fish. Afternoon fishing is made for the hopper-dropper technique. While the river is low, it remains productive.
The lower Big Lost River is still running high at about 400 CFS, so wading and access remains challenging. Tricos, Craneflies, and hoppers can be found on the river, and nymph droppers are particularly effective under your favorite hopper or attractor pattern.
The upper Big Lost River system is low, and to find success anglers must cover a good bit of water and fish the choicest locations. Look for deeper riffles, undercut banks, and shaded water. A grasshopper, hopper-dropper rig, or small attractor dries are the way to go on the East Fork, North Fork, and upper mainstem Big Lost.
The Salmon River between Stanley and Challis is low, but fishing continues to be productive. Hopper-droppers are effective, as are small attractor dries. Rafts are a far better choice for floating anglers, and good walk-and-wade opportunities exist along the entire course of the river.
The South Fork Boise River is running at 1150 CFS, allowing floating anglers excellent access to the river’s many riffles, runs, and pools. Look for Pink Alberts, Flavs, Caddis, and hoppers to be your dry-fly offerings on the South Fork, and nymph fishing continues to produce fish.
Happy fishing, everyone
