Week of June 3, 2007
As Nick said this morning, for this report, “Fish it now.” Dance for rain might be another thought.
South Fork of the Boise
Nothing new yet. Large stonefly nymphs.
Yellowstone Park
The Madison is at 421 cfs today. It should be about 800-900 cfs right now. Highs are for the 40’s and 50’s and thunderstorms, which probably means baetis. In that foamy chop I would rather look for my bobber than a tiny dry. The Firehole is at 286 cfs and should be more like 450. The cold front of this week won’t help the yellow sallys or the evening caddis hatches, but should make for some decent afternoon Pale Morning Dun Fishing. Our next weeks report will come from West Yellowstone. We will be guiding over there for a couple of weeks.
Mountain Lakes
Baker Lake Buggers. Small streamers or a size 14-16 weighted nymph hung from an indicator for the aerobic fly fisherman. Some good reports, if “killed ‘em”, means anything
Big Wood River
The Big Wood is still blowing some smoke. Flows are 668 cfs this morning. With thunder storms predicted through the week it probably won’t change much. It is pushy to wade, but very fishable. Although a few yellow stones and some western green drakes have been seen, most fish have been taken by fishing the dark side. A large royal stimulator hatch was reported north of town however for you dry fly purists. The menu on the Big Wood is as varied as the Lodge Dining Room buffet, but a larger nymph followed by a small nymph with indicator placement about 9 feet away, fishing 5x floro as tippet should either put a smile on your face or make you real good at fixing your tangles. Nymph suggestions for the large fly would be tungsten bead green drake, or black or brown stonefly. Nymph suggestions for the small fly would be thorax bead pheasant tail or zebra midge, or sparkle caddis larvae. Reports coming into the shop is that it is fishing both high and low.
Big Lost River
The Lower Big Lost is flowing 519 cfs. up from 450 last week. Crossable in places. Tandem wading recommended. Good time to hold her hand. Midges and yellow sallys showing some. Look for the giant stone soon and evening caddis. Watching your dry float on that beautiful water is great, but catching some of those big rainbows is best down under right now. O. K. here it is. I had three rigs set up there the other day all with heavy golden stone nymphs and zebra midges. It worked.
The upper Big Lost is clear and flowing at 495. Hatches have not started there yet or in Copper Basin, but the Green Drakes will show on the East Fork before on the Big Wood. Fish your nymphs in the soft edge water, or slow pools.
Little Wood River (Desert)
With the hot weather of the past few days it is not a trip. By Wednesday when it cools again it will work as the water cools. Big Bushy Rubber Legged Dry Fly with a prince dropper size 10-12 in the heads of the pools, or even it it lands elsewhere. Dace minnow imitations, black buggers or your favorite mouse pattern though the deep pools might move that big brown you have been seeking. Watch out for the buzz worms.
Silver Creek
Silver Creek is flowing just above 100 cfs this morning. It is very low compared the last last couple of years with our wet spring rains. All the pumps and canals are going hard to make crop. The banks on the mid Creek are very exposed, but there were plenty of fish when the Brown Drakes popped with the heat of the week. There were many medium sized browns and rainbows. A few very large browns hooked, lost, and a few landed. Twenty plus years ago a handful of us made the trek to the Creek at night to fish the Drake hatch. It has gotten crowded. I heard one angler comment in the dark,”Where else would you be, this is world famous.” Still a treat, a wonderful phenomenon and you really don’t need much water when the bugs are out. Did you see that moon with the meteor bisect the other night?
Look for the Green Drakes on the Conservancy water now. They will come out when the Brown Drake starts to trickle away. PMD emergences are when you find them, with the bright days they have been in the evening on the conservancy. There should be decent hatches with the cooling weather predicted this week if you can dodge the wind.
Carey Lake
No reports on Carey Lake, but Magic has been on fire. There are lots of fish because of the last two years good water. Type 3-5 tips or full sink lines. Perch buggers in brown, brown and olive with 3x floro. Float tube or boat and find the pod and stick with it. They whack it so hard. It is a great time to do it, when the water warms in July and August they go too deep to reach with your fly. One Magic regular was in to restock the other day and commented, “every cast, but I was fishing a type 5” If you haven’t been there it is worth the run.
Closing Notes
We have the bugs for every hatch if your box is running low. Have a great week.
Fish far and fine,
Scott Schnebly
Lost River Outfitters