Week of August 25, 2009
With some strange weather patterns over our area this summer, fly fishers have had to choose water accordingly. Near record lows last week, with storms made the spring creek waters, and the lowland freestone streams the best choices. Predicted heat for the next week, should keep the high elevation fish active. Just something to keep in mind when you decide which river to visit.
Our late spring rains have paid dividends. Water levels in Magic and Mackay are still very full. Stream levels are at or above normal. Fairly cool summer temperatures have helped benefit the fish in the desert. We should be looking at good growth and survival rates for our trout populations this year.
I can’t believe summer is nearly gone and we are looking forward to fall already. It will be good!
South Fork of the Boise
The South Fork is flowing at 1,000 cfs today, down from 1,600. Wading and crossing still not in the cards, floating a hard boat to Danskin Bridge also not recommended. A raft would be fine. Expect some pink alberts and some decent hopper fishing.
Yellowstone Park
We still have some openings in Yellowstone if you are interested. I will be in the Park Sept. 8-30th. Susanne has openings in Sept. The fall fishing in the Lamar Valley is as good as it gets. If you have not done it and would like to, let us help. You can call either Susanne Connor at 208-720-1994 or my cell at 208-720-3813 and we will fill you in on the particulars.
The waters we fish that time of year are the Yellowstone, Slough Creek, the Lamar River, Soda Butte Creek and Trout Lake. Expect cutthroat and rainbow from 14-25 inches.Their diet is mostly on dry flys in September. It is more than a fishing trip!!!
Mountain Lakes
It is a perfect time to take a hike with the fly rod to one of your numerous high mountain lakes. Most of the mosquitoes have gone, the hoppers are hopping, ants are moving about, beetles flopping in the water. Make sure to take a few bead head nymphs in pheasant tail, hare’s ear, or prince, if they are a bit surface shy. We have the perfect backpacking float tube for you with pump, pack and 5 chambers for your outing. They are made by Outcast and weigh less than 15 lbs. Great way to get off the beaten path.
Big Wood River
The Big Wood is flowing at 239 cfs today with normal flows at 210. August proved to be it’s usual, not everywhere, event on the Big Wood. The small fish get in the way, and the big fish seem to disappear. Not true everywhere, but pretty common. There is good fishing for numbers and expect the larger fish to show when the red quill hatches begin in early Sept. on the Big Wood. Cloudy days will also produce some baetis. Right now the best bet is the yellow crane size 14-16 with a zebra size 18-20 hung under the dry. The upper Wood is also giving up some larger fish on Spruce Moth imitations. This is usually a July phenomenon, if it happens. It started last week and should show in the fir forested areas of our freestone streams. Mistaken for a large caddis, it is actually a moth which comes to the surface to collect water. Trout love them. Whitefish will rise for them. A tan size 10 caddis with a furnace hackle is almost fool proof. If you are caught without a good imitation, squash the wings on a large humpy.
Floating the canyon stretch below Magic has also been good. Small weighted nymphs including black or olive zebras, have been producing. There is not much dry fly action. You might try a hopper along the banks if you must cast a dry.
Big Lost River
The upper Lost is flowing at 175 cfs. There is still some snowpack to come down, but it is not affecting water levels. Average flow is 160 cfs. The upper Lost and Copper Basin areas are also fairly empty of dry fly hatches. Early morning trico, some residual drake spinners, hopppers and spruce moth imitations in size 10. A weighted dropper nymph in size 14-16 on 5 or 6x fluorcarbon is not a bad choice when not much is rising. We like a wullf adams, purple haze, or madam X as the dry indicator fly. There are some great wild fish in the East Fork and the upper Lost. Please release them for next year’s spawn or maybe you will get another chance at one on your next trip. The Lost has no regulations, so we need to police ourselves. It is the prettiest of all of our local waters, please help protect it.
The lower Lost is also going through the August doldrums. It is pretty common for the bigger fish to disappear until the water drops more and the fall baetis begin to show. Expect September and October to be great, as water conditions have been cool with steady flows. There is a bit of trico action in the morning, but you will need to fish it in the slow edges of the pools. There are also some cranes still around so skating a large crane will raise a few fish. Expect baetis if you get lucky with a cloudy day, other wise small weighted nymphs on light flurocarbon tippets are the key to catching fish. Olive, black, brown zebras as the point fly would be my choice.
Little Wood River (Desert)
If you watch for rattle snakes, and pick a cool day, you just might be surprised. Fish survival rates were good this summer. There is some size to the browns and about the only fly you will need is a hopper. Try the Morrish hopper. It has worked nearly everywhere we have cast it. September should be great on this reach pre spawn for the browns.
Silver Creek
Silver Creek is flowing at 105 cfs today. Average flow are 140. Expect flows to come up as crops come off the fields in the next few weeks and irrigation season winds down.
Morning tricos, callibaetis, some enermis, and cloudy day baetis are the main insects still. The trico hatches will dwindle by mid September. Hoppers are a great bet, but better on breezy days. Damsel drys still around, but they too will slow in the next couple of weeks.
The Creek has been good this year and the fall fishing with crimson duns, and baetis should be banner.
Salmon River
Fsh the upper Salmon the hoppers, spruce moth imitations, yellow humpies, royal wulff and adams imitations right now. The fish will rise readily.
The best news is that the chinook and sockeye runs on the salmon this summer were and are good. The steelhead are not far behind. The steelhead counts over Bonneville dam, the first on the Columbia are very big, with 436,000+ fish already and 134,000 wild steelhead. Those are good numbers. They are coming over at a rate of 10,000-20,000 per day already.
At lower Granite dam the counts are 200-300 per day already with 21,500 fish into Idaho. We will have a good fall steelhead season and a banner spring season. Book your Stanley steelhead lodge dates early this year, so you get the time you would like. 208-726-1706
Closing Notes
The new store at 371 north main in Ketchum is great. Come on by if you have not already. The old store still has sale items including waders and many shoes at 50-60% off. The old store will be open through Labor Day weekend.
We are looking forward to a great fall season and winter and spring steelhead are shaping up to be some of the best ever. Don’t miss it. What else is there to do?
Fish far and fine,
Scott Schnebly
Lost River Outfitters