Week of July 21, 2008
All of our local waters are running clear and fishing well right now. Hatches are good and trout are wanting to rise after a month of heavy flows. We have had no rain so far in July and it would be a blessing to get some moisture, but the late spring and good snowpack are keeping the rivers cold and very fishable.
South Fork of the Boise
The South Fork of the Boise is flowing at 1790 right now. If you want to fish the entire river you will need to float. Pink alberts, golden stones, and caddis are around. Hopper fishing should start to pick up.
Yellowstone Park
The Park waters are fishing well right now. Giant stonefly hatches are happening on the cold rivers like the Yellowstone and Gallitan and lower Slough. PMD and caddis on the Madison. The Madison is flowing at 494 today about 50 cfs above normal. The Lamar is flowing at 1,430 today and is about 500 cfs above normal, Soda Butte is also big and muddy so don’t plan on fishing those waters quite yet. The Yellowstone River is big and over it’s banks still, and just opened July 15. It should be a great fall in Yellowstone, many of the fish have escaped a lot of early season pressure.
If you are interested in a Park trip give us a call and we will set something up. We are getting inquiries about next year already. We will be in the Park from Sept. 4 to Oct 6 this year and already have over 100 trips booked. There is some great water, great fish and if you have never done it you will enjoy the trip. Trips are 3-5 days with cabin lodging. This trip saves plane fare to South America.
Mountain Lakes
All mountain lakes should be in prime condition right now. If you want some solitude, grab a rod, some nymphs and beetles and hoppers and take a hike. The wildflowers are still in full bloom at elevation and it is a great time to go.
Big Wood River
The Big Wood at Hailey is flowing at 324 today. I is still heavy water for some crossings, but getting around is not much of an issue for good waders. Green drakes have moved well above Ketchum by now. Golden stones and giant stones are still around, so casting a large fly in the big water can be surprising. The heavy evening caddis hatches have begun on the river. Fish 8-10 pm with a size 16 or smaller caddis. You may only need one pool. Mornings are best for good dry fly on the Big Wood right now with caddis and pick alberts. It is time for the adams family and purple hazes to emerge from your boxes as well.
Big Lost River
The Lower Lost is flowing at 544 cfs today. Big flows, but fishable. Evening caddis, some PMD, golden stones, and still a few giant stoneflies are on the water. There are craneflies now so if you want to try to skate a large dry fly, it is time. The river is very clear so stealth is important in sneaking the fish on the shelves. Be prepared to nymph, as the afternoon heat will slow down much of the rising, except for the mid day stonefly activity.
The upper Lost is flowing about 300 cfs. It is still hard to get around and many fish are hugging the alders on the banks. Green drake and flav spinner falls starting about 10 am and sometimes lasting until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Some caddis still around as well. Stonefly patterns, both giant and goldens are rising some fish. Please release your trout on this water, it has no protection from the department and is one of our most precious resources. Your day can include two cutthroat species, cut-bow crosses, rainbow, brook trout, whitefish and the odd grayling. The upper Lost has been in whirling disease recovery mode and is nearly back to it’s former glory. It is time to protect it.
The East Fork of the Lost in Copper Basin is fishing very well. The caddis hatches are past peak, but the trout will rise to them. It is time for larger hopper and attractor patterns on the East Fork. A dropper zebra, pheasant tail nymph or copper john is a good way to go in the afternoon. This river has seen an increase in pressure the last few years as well and has no quality regulations on it. Please treat it gently and release your trout. There are many wild cutthroat in this system now and they can reach 20 inches or more. Give someone else a chance to catch your fish.
The North Fork of the Lost is also fishing with the same hatches as the East Fork and the upper Main. It is a pretty little stream that is sometimes overlooked as you drive by it past Summit creek. It too has some large cutthroat that rise nicely to a very drag free fly. Adams, purple haze, green drake spinners, and caddis are good dry fly choices.
Little Wood River (Desert)
With the heat of summer on wait for cooler water and temperatures to arrive in Sept.
Silver Creek
Silver Creek is flowing at 105 cfs, with normal flows at 110 cfs. Mosses have grown up, giving fish some cover, so they have spread out. Trico fishing has been very good in the morning. Some days there are good PMD spinner falls after the trico. There are also some micro baetis around. Evening caddis fishing is decent if you want some solitude on the Conservancy waters. Damsel flies and callibaetis in the afternoons. Make sure to take some 7X at this time of year. You might want to try a spool of Powerful, it is the strongest for diameter that I have found and holds a good blood knot.
Salmon River
You are back to trout fishing on the Salmon River. The short chinook season closed on the 17th of July, when the quota of harvested salmon was reached. Tell me what the logic was to have a salmon season on the upper River, when we had not had one in over thirty years, and setting a limit of 20 salmon per person in for the season? The salmon season was set to last until Aug. 19 or when the quota of about 250 fish were harvested. I thought the idea was to give a boost to local economies, give anglers a chance to fish for fish which had a river named after them, and make a statement to our inept politicians who don’t seem to understand the importance of these grand creatures. The 20 fish limit per person was a major mistake by the Idaho Fish and Game department. A better idea would have been to sell a tag for one fish per person. If you killed a fish your season was over, just like a deer or elk tag. You could catch and release all you wanted until you killed your salmon. I heard of two guys who had harvested 18 chinook. What was the point? A very few people got to kill a lot of fish. We were selling salmon flies and renting big rods and starting to see the economic benefits even in Ketchum. I don’t get it. If you do let me know.
Closing Notes
With travel growing more expensive it is important to keep your home waters healthy and full. Give some support to one of your local conservation groups. IRU, Wood River Land Trust, ISSU, Trout Unlimited the Nature Conservancy are all working in our best interest and need our support.
Fish far and fine,
Scott Schnebly
Lost River Outfitters