Week of August 30, 2008
Oops. August blew by and we missed a couple of reports. Sorry. We were busy on the rivers. Most of the month was as usual, except for a mid month Spruce fly emergence that surprised everyone. The Lost, the Salmon and tributaries, and the upper Wood fish were the beneficiaries of the occasional emergence of these moths. They are not aquatic, but come to the rivers to drink. That process is performed by lighting on the water and floating a fair distance. They must taste real good, because all the large trout responded with gusto to the size 10 brownish tan fluttering creatures. All of our #10 and 12 tan caddis patterns are now gone. We could use some rain. There has been no precipitation for the months of July or August. There are a few sprinkles today. Now for a quick look at the coming month of September.
South Fork of the Boise
No great reports from the South Fork. Some great fish, but not a numbers game. Hopper fishing while drifting, and fish eating pink albert duns, emergers, and nymphs in the riffle water. Don’t expect a 20 fish day, but what you get is probably going to be large. September and October hatches will be primarily baets and some October caddis, orange/brown size 10.
Yellowstone Park
We will be leaving for the Park on Sept. 5 for a month. We have 100 trips booked there in the month of September. The Lamar is flowing just about average with Soda Butte above average. September is a great month in Yellowstone. Usually all the rivers are in shape. Hoppers,beetles, red quills, baetis, and midges are all on the menu. Dry fly fishing is usually as good as it gets, and if it gets tough, there is always the dark side with your favorite nymph patterns. The Madison is flowing at 406 cfs with 405 normal. Baetis and fall caddis on the Firehole and Madison keep the rising fish occupied with streamers and large nymphs to target the running browns from Hebgen Lake. I return on Sept. 30. It is unlikely that you will get a fishing report from Silver Gate, Montana from me, but if you would like to check on fishing conditions, give the shop a call as we will be in daily contact.
Mountain Lakes
Great time to take a hike. These fish have been eating hoppers, beetles and ants for a couple of months and are now getting ready for a long winter under the ice. They can be voracious. We have a great tube for you at the shop for backpacking to the lakes. The Outcast Trinity five chambered pontoon boat. With pump it is under 10 pounds and makes your back cast on the mountain lakes a non event. Check it out. One of the gadgets that really does make sense.
Big Wood River
The Big Wood is flowing at 131 cfs, which is quite low. Normal flows are about 195 cfs. Tricos are still on the Wood and will continue until mid Sept. Look for the fall hatches of Hecuba (red Quill size 10) and baetis to start as soon as it cools a bit. Some cloudy, rainy weather will also kick start these hatches. The bigger fish are still hiding. You can catch plenty of pinners, but until the fall hatches begin, the big guys have been hiding pretty well. Larger fish can be taken on Hoppers and larger nymphs in the deep pools. Zebra midges hung from nearly any dry fly with 6X flurocarbon tippets work well. The Wood is fishing well, and, with all the small fish in the river our future is bright. You might try an ant with 6X tippet on the risers.
Big Lost River
The Upper Lost has dropped a great deal in the last couple of weeks. At Howell Ranch it is flowing at 85 cfs, with normal flows about 150 cfs. Water temperatures are still cold.
The upper Big Lost and Copper Basin are still fishing pretty well. The Spruce moth hatch is pretty much gone, but while it was on there was a good indication of pretty good large fish survival in spite of this river not having any catch and release protection. Hoppers, Madam X, purple haze size 12-14, zebra midges, pheasant tails, copper johns, hung below a visible dry are good choices. Ants and beetles have also been good choices as they have on the Big Wood. The next real hatch on the East Fork and the Upper Big Lost will be Baetis. There are a few places where you can see the size 10 red quill.
The Lower Lost is flowing at 309 cfs today. Normal flows are 265 cfs for this time of year. It has been dropping and the water cooling so fishing has picked up. Although there is some dry fly fishing most fishing has been with nymphs. Small weighted pheasant tails, zebra midges hung from a heavy 12 or 14 nymph have been most effective. Hopper fishing in some grassy meadow stretches has been working. Look for the fall baetis to begin sometime mid Sept.
Little Wood River (Desert)
No reports on the Little Wood in the desert. It is still a bit warm, but it might be worth a visit mid Sept.
Silver Creek
The big news at the Creek was the two day fire that started somewhere near Kilpatrick Bridge, and consumed some 15,000 acres in two days. It burned onto the preserve west of Kilpatrick bridge and the slough. It was hot and even burned the cattails on the south side of Purdy’s Pond. The Conservancy waters were closed for one day, but are again open. Good job fire crews, for saving Picabo, some major barley fields and keeping the fire away from most structures. It could have been much worse.
Silver Creek is flowing at 117 cfs. It is a bit below normal which is 130 cfs. The best news is that the waters have cooled a great deal. The Creek looks very healthy right now. There are still some waning trico hatches, baetis hatches are getting stronger, there are still callibaetis, which will continue into Sept. Browns are beginning to gather for their fall spawn and are fairly agressive to hopper patterns. Beetles have also convinced some fish to eat. Look for the fall Baetis and mahogany duns size 16, to begin in the month of Sept. Windy days and hopper fishing draw me to the Creek at this time of year.
Salmon River
The Sawtooth hatchery received 4,500 chinook, with about 700 needed for egg quota. If we have another chinook season, we should lobby for a one chinook per person limit.
The good news is there are about 500 sockeye that have returned so far. With luck, there may be some stock for a serious recovery effort.
Steelhead are over Lower Granite and should begin showing in the lower Salmon soon. The run over Bonneville has dropped below the ten year average, but hopefully will pick up with the later “B” runs starting up river. It is still early, and a large number of steelhead are high up river already.
Closing Notes
Will check back in in early October. Have a great month of September.
Fish far and fine,
Scott Schnebly
Lost River Outfitters