Week of June 3, 2008
Patience, patience, patience. That is an attribute most fly fishers need to succeed in our sport. This year we are being tested by our weather and water conditions. After a long cold winter we have noticed a real desire for anglers to start the season off casting dry flies. Although our spring has been more normal this year, we have been spoiled by the last couple of low water years with the immediate gratification of hopper/dropper conditons on the Big Wood beginning the season. Not so this year. In the long run, the cool rainy weather that we have had the last couple of weeks, will be a huge benefit in August and down the road. Hunt morels on the burn, until your favorite stream comes into shape.
Opening weekend was not really a surprise. Crowded on the Creek, overcast weather helped the hatches. PMDs and baetis showed. Trout were rising and pretty stupid, for the creek. There were a few other rivers that produced quite well for the early opener. There is still some high water to come, but it looks like a good season.
South Fork of the Boise
The upper South Fork is flowing at 2,290 with normal at 2,650. I would try the lake for smallmouth, rainbow and bull trout on sink tips if you find yourself in the upper drainage.
The South Fork below the dam is flowing at 595 today with normal flows at 2,000 cfs. It is nearly wadeable at this level. There were many good reports on the South Fork for the Memorial opener. Many of the fish were spawning, so take care in fishing to them. Streamers and stonefly nymphs were good flies. The March Browns were hatching so a size 14 brown bodied mayfly brought fish to the surface. With low flows the South Fork may hatch giant stoneflies early this year as well as the epic blanket caddis. Low water flows help warm the river from the sun and generally advance hatching activity. The IDWR says they are going to keep the low flows through mid June. Floating still probably the best to get to the back side of the river.
Yellowstone Park
The Madison is flowing at 1,200 cfs with normal flows being 850. The Firehole is flowing at 870 cfs with normal flows being 450. That puts the Gibbon at 330 cfs which is huge. Reports are that Gibbon Meadows are more like Gibbon Lakes. The Madison is murky and streamer fishing reported ok. The Firehole is hatching PMDs. Until it warms, don’t expect many caddis to show. The Stonefly hatch on the Madison and Firehole Canyon will probably also be delayed as snowmelt has chilled these rivers. There is still a lot of snow in Yellowstone.
The Lamar hit 9,000 cfs yesterday, it is flowing at 7,700 today, with normal flows at this time of year at 1,300. It is huge. Slough Creek must also be a monster. We won’t show up there until Sept. 4th this year with our trips, which is probably good.
We are very booked in Yellowstone this year, with 94 guide trips booked from Sept. 4-Oct. 8. We could squeeze a in few more, but it is not too early to look toward next year. Famous rivers, fun trip, and a great adventure.
Mountain Lakes
Probably not. Let them thaw.
Big Wood River
The Big Wood is flowing at 1,230 cfs. Normal is 1,300. We are not far off, but there has been additional snow and rain in the high country. My gauge on the last high water on the Big Wood, is when the last snow melts from the top of Bald Mountain. It hasn’t happened yet, so there should be another push when it warms. The cool nights have reduced melt and the river is actually flowing fairly clear. It can be fished in the eddy waters with nymphs, or streamer fished with weighted buggers. Big girdle bugs, stone fly nymphs, prince nymphs, or black and olive wooley buggers, or bead headed philo bettos would be good choices.
There is no way to wade the main channel. Please don’t try. The Big Wood is a very fast river and footing treacherous. Wade the side channels with caution.
The Lower Big Wood is very fishable, but big. Stunned perch are coming through the turbines in the dam pool. Big fish are infrequently taking them, a three inch dead drifted perch streamer seems to be best. It is a bit tricky. If you float tube or wade the reaches that are accessible, weighted, dead drifted nymphs produced well for us this week.
Magic is spotty. It is not full and probably will not fill. F&G planted fingerlings, so try a streamer on a sink tip matching the baby perch or fingerling rainbow.
Big Lost River
The upper Big Lost is flowing at 828 cfs, with normal flows running at 1,100. This drainage is generally higher than the Big Wood drainage, so expect waters to rise and color when we get warmer weather. It is clear enough to streamer fish, but this river runs so cold early season, I would not recommend the attempt. There are better places to cast. Anticipate the Copper Basin and Upper Lost to come into shape in late June and be prepared with green drakes, golden stones, and caddis.
The lower Lost is flowing at 432 cfs, with nomal flows running at 775. Obviously the rain has reduced water calls down basin. The lower Lost is running a bit green, but very fishable at these levels. It is even wadeable in places. There were a few baetis hatching last week, but not in abundance. Few rises. There were also midges, but there was no need to fish size 18 zebras. The early season rainbows will eat nearly any weighted nymph you cast from size 10-16. A double nymph rig with the smaller weighted nymph as a trailer works very well. Flurocarbon helps, but probably not a necessity right now.
Expect the first hatches to begin in late June. PMDs, Caddis, Yellow sallies and a few giant stones. The Crane flies probably won’t show until July. For now stick with the nymph rig and hope there are not huge water calls.
Little Wood River (Desert)
Although the Little Wood is flowing low and clear with mid summer water levels, don’t expect a great deal. It would make a nice outing for generally smaller fish. If you wanted to explore for the big browns cast a large orange turks turantula or stonefly imitation into the riffles at the heads of the pools. A prince nymph or girdle bug dropper might also work. Most reports back to the shop have been catches of small rainbows and small browns. The desert flowers are spectacular right now, so if you are on the creek and get crowded out, it is not that far to get away.
The Little Wood reservoir can be a great early season get away. Fish a sink tip with a brown bugger trailed with a carey special. There have been reports of some large rainbow caught at the Little Wood.
The upper Little Wood is still two to three weeks from working well.
Any body been to Fish Creek Reservoir????
Silver Creek
Silver Creek is flowing at 103 with normal being 120. The rain has helped the levels of this stream. Many of the sprinklers on alfalfa and barley are dormant. That helps the aquifer and the springs are pumping a bit more water. Before Memorial Day flows were less than 80 cfs. The creek is low and still needs some water to spread out the trout. Many are still lying in the deeper pool water and there are not many hidey holes as the vegetation is also sparse yet.
Cloudy weather with rain has helped early season hatches. The PMD, which was a mayfly that seemed to disappear the last decade, and was our bread and butter hatch for years is prevalent. It is nice sized early season. Size 16 normally, but maybe a 14-15 right now. If the hatch is spotty you may want to drop a callibaetis nymph or 16-18 pheasant tail beneath your dry. The fish on the preserve have been stuck enough on top they are already cautious and just any PMD drifted over them may not get a response. The nymph rig with 7X G-Max Flurocarbon was my best producer the last couple of trips to the Creek.
Expect the brown drake to start this week on the middle sections of Silver Creek. Our spinners arrived just in time. We need some warm evenings to kick it off. The white prairie caddis is the precursor, a few have begun to emerge.
Look for the Green Drake following the Brown on the upper Creek in the Preserve.
Carey Lake
No reports, but an option in a tube for bluegill and bass. Not a bad option either. The cacophony of bird calls right now is one of the highlights of this trip at this time of year.
Salmon River
High, colored and cold. Not really an option yet. But, the Fish and Game announced a Chinook season on the upper river for harvest of surplus hatchery salmon. Pretty amazing. The season is slated to begin June 19 and the river will be open from the Highway 75 bridge at Slate Creek to nearly the Sawtooth Hatchery. Apparently the season will run until a quota of 400-500 fish are harvested. We will not doubt have a new zoo in Central Idaho, but there are few around who have ever had this opportunity. Hopefully this season will have significant impact on rural economies and our fisherman that politicians like Larry Craig will shrivel up and blow away. I am not sure that McCain, Hillary or Barrack know what a Chinook or wild steelhead look like or mean to all of us, but they will learn quickly.
Closing Notes
I am in Yellowstone on the Firehole/Madison starting June 12. I will write another report before I leave. Reservoirs and lakes are an option while the rivers are in spate. We have a great selection of new flies for you to try on the still water fisheries, and Zac and Hunter have done a great job of organizing them. The new Winston BIIMX rods are here for you to try. Winston has a fast action stick for you Sage fans. Lots of rain gear from Patagonia, Mt. Hardware and Willy J. is stocked with some on sale. Konic reels are selling fast with the same drag system as their expensive models, but cast, instead of machined stock. Stop in and say hello. We won’t lead you wrong.
Fish far and fine,
Scott Schnebly
Lost River Outfitters