Week of May 28, 2007
This weekend marked the opening of all waters in Idaho. For those itching to fish moving water you had an unusual opportunity as the typical brown, turbid rivers we generally experience on opening day were running clear.
Silver Creek
Opening day was not a banner hatch day, and on Sunday the wind was a factor. The PMD hatch can be sporatic in June on the Creek. It is treat when you find it. The sulphur bug is a size 15 early season and they have seen enough bugs that they will key on it, or the nymph, which can be imitated by a size 14 or 16 pheasant tail. The early season callibaetis is oversized like the PMD and can happen in the afternoon. You could have baetis on an overcast day. Look for those hatches early season on the creek. Ants and beetles are the terrestials to fish right now. Try damsel fly nymphs underwater. If you are targeting the big browns talk to Paddy, our rodent expert.
Look for the Brown Drakes on the mid Creek this week. They will undoubtable show as we had a fairly warm spring. Green Drakes and Grey drakes will hatch on the upper water in Early June.
The Creek should have a good year.
Carey Lake
Bass and bluegill and perch. Stayner ducktails and Prince nymps for the panfish. Black buggers for the bass. A fun diversion in your float tube.
Salmon River
Clear, and running hard. Probably not a trip, since steelhead season is over. Give it a few weeks to settle down.
South Fork of the Boise
The South Fork is a great float this time of year. Stonefly nymphs. Big drys in the softer water as it flows very cold early.
Yellowstone Park
Opened Memorial Weekend. Our first trip to the Park starts on June 6th. We are guiding there June 6-19th. Look for Pale Morning Duns, golden stones, and caddis to start the hatches on the Firehole, Madison and Gibbon. All those waters are clear and fishable. Salmon flies to follow shortly after on the turbulent waters of the Madison and the Firehole Canyon. Some green drakes on the Gibbon. June is a good time for dry flies in the Park. By July these waters warm and are sometimes even closed to fishing to protect the fish.
A cold front or snowy weather system will shut the hatches off but nymphs and streamers will work if that happens. The water temperatures don’t cool enough to stop the fish from feeding thanks to the geyser water that feeds these waters.
It is great wildlife viewing as well with the calving buffaloes and elk. Bear population is up, be aware and use common sense.
Mountain Lakes
No reports, yet, but ice out has happened in many Stanley Basin lakes and many will fish in June this year.
Big Wood River
The Big Wood is flowing at about 635 cfs and rising. Normal flows about 1400 cfs. It is clear, but still pushing quite a bit of current. Fish heavy green drake nymphs or stonefly nymphs, on the edges of the currents, in the pools, or the side channels. Large fluffy attractors in the soft water also rose fish over the opening weekend. Some fish are still on redds, so be a bit careful not to walk on them. Look for the green drakes and flavs as the first real emergence with the golden stones and giant stones not far behind. For the first time in two years we will be able to fish the drake hatch with dry flies the river over.
Big Lost River
The upper Big Lost and tributaries are running clear. The upper is running at about 530 cfs. Nomal flows about 1100 cfs. Like the Big Wood it is still pushing some current. This water system is cold, even in Copper Basin on the East Fork. Nymphing might be effective or streamer fishing the fine spot cutthroat as they are very carnivorous. The East Fork hatches green drakes a bit earlier than the Big Wood. Start looking for them mid-June this year with the golden stone flies following. It is catch and release on all cutthroat in the Upper Lost system. Not a bad idea for all species there. This river system is still in recovery mode from the decimation of whirling disease in the 80’s and 90’s. A grand slam on the upper Lost is a west slope cutthroat, a fine spot cutthroat, a brook trout, a rainbow, a grayling, and a Lost River whitefish. It is a pretty special place. Please treat it with care.
The Lower Lost is flowing about 450 cfs, and is very clear. It is crossable in places, and fishing well with nymphs. My trip on opening day landed 50-60 trout to 18 inches. Although they will eat a variety of nymphs, we fished a zebra midge hung off a golden stone nymph. There were a few midges visible. Look for the first hatches to be the golden stone and giant stone flies. Some pale morning duns will begin to show in late June as well. The evening caddis can be great if you stay late.
Little Wood River (Desert)
The Little Wood is very clear and fairly low since the irrigators turned on the pumps. The low water has moved the fish into the deeper pools. It is still running cool enough for decent, but not furious action. There is not much showing in the shallow pocket water. The giant stones have gone, but the fish will still rise to a large dry in the stimulator style. Hang a prince or small black flashback stone from the dry and fish the heads of the deeper pools or deep broken water and you will find some decent rainbows and browns. If you cover some water you can make a day of it. If you are looking for a trophy brown, streamer fish the deep dark pools. It is a beautiful river in the desert. A few wildflowers are still in bloom. Be aware of rattlesnakes.
Closing Notes
Magic Reservoir has been very good with streamers imitating perch minnows on type 3-5 sink lines, from either a boat or float tube. They are great fish to hook and play. Mostly rainbow right now. Stop in the shop for some great perch flies and access locations.
Fish far and fine,
Scott Schnebly
Lost River Outfitters