Week of August 3, 2008
Our weekly reports are turning in weekly and a half reports. Sorry, fishing has interfered. If you need a river update send me an email and I will get you a specific river report as best I can.
Temperatures in the mid 80’s suggest the dog days of August, but the trout haven’t noticed yet. Most rivers are dropping quickly, but still running cold. There has been essentially no rain in well over a month. We could use some moisture, but without the lightning effect. It is very dry. However, our fishing in central Idaho remains very good.
South Fork of the Boise
The South Fork below Anderson Dam is flowing at 1,840 cfs with normal flows about 1,460. That is too big to wade very well. You can pick through the rocks on the road side, but access by boat is best. Pink Alberts will be the best bet right now for rising fish. Hopper fishing should be good from the boat while you are drifting from riffle to riffle.
Yellowstone Park
All rivers and streams in the Park are still running a bunch of water. The Yellowstone river at the outlet is flowing at 4,250 cfs with normal flows 2,750 cfs. The Lamar is flowing at 626 with normal flows about 450 cfs. The Madison is flowing at 429 with normal flows at 439. With good river flows there have not been closures on the Madison or Firehole rivers this year. Cooler, longer nights will make it even better for these fisheries.
No reports on the Lamar yet, but it should start fishing soon. Soda Butte Creek and Slough Creek are fishing well, as is the Gallitan. Callibaetis are hatching and spinning on Yellowstone Lake mid morning for those of you with a water conveyance device. Take extreme care in wading any water on the Yellowstone River.
We will be in Yellowstone Sept. 4-Oct 6 this year. If you have an interest inquire about next year. Our trips are 3-5 days with cabin lodging and fishing some of the West’s most beautiful waters. There is still one opening Sept. 23-25 on our trip to the Lamar valley.
Mountain Lakes
It is time for hoppers, beetles and attractor flies on all of the mountain lakes. Great time to stalk the bank cruisers. On some of the popular waters you may want to take some nymphs, like Baker Lake, as these fish see quiet a few offerings.
Big Wood River
The Big Wood is flowing at 204 cfs with normal flows about 300 cfs. It is fishing best in the morning through early afternoon hours and again in the evening. Tricos, pink alberts, small yellow cranes, a few yellow sallies still egg laying, and evening caddis are the hatches. It is time to lengthen the leaders and fish the 6x, for good success. Attractor flies will still work, but dropping a small pheasant tail or zebra midge on 6x flurocarbon will more than triple your chances of a hookup. A blue Wulff or size 12-14 Wulff Adams is a good indicator fly that will also get taken.
Big Lost River
The Lower Lost is flowing at 437 cfs with normal flows about 540 cfs. It is wadeable, but still pushy in many of your favorite spots. Many of the large trout have moved to the gravel shelves. The water is still crystal clear and those fish are nearly impossible. We hooked a few on 7x flurocarbon and weighted size 20 hare’s ear nymphs on our last trip over. The caddis are still in abundance, some PMD, and mid day yellow stone flies. Best success is in fishing the riffle water with a golden stone or trude style attractor and a size 14 weighted nymph a couple of feet under with 6x fluro. The cranes are out, and skating the crane mid day has also been effective.
The Upper Lost is flowing at 157 with normal flows about 250 cfs. It is still pushing quite a bit of water depending on where you are fishing it. The irrigation canals remove at least half of the upper Lost. The drake spinner falls are pretty much over, but there are plenty of insects to bring fish to the surface in the morning. Caddis, some trico, pink alberts, a few golden stones are around before the wind comes up and the air temps hit 80 degrees. Our best success in the afternoons have been with hopper or madam X patterns with a weighted caddis or nymph dropper, size 12 or 14. Water temps in the morning have been about 50 degrees, keeping these trout very spunky. It has been very windy over the hill this summer. Probably not a place for the three weight.
The Copper Basin water on the East Fork has been loved to death this summer. It is till working some, but they are not easy on the top. These fish have been fed nearly every fly we have in our bins. Fishing the nymph on the dark side is the best way to get the larger cutts and bows to eat. The East Fork is running low and clear.
Please release your fish in the Big Lost Watershed. It is one of our finest fisheries and has no quality regulations.
Little Wood River (Desert)
Skip the Little Wood in the desert. The water above the Little Wood Reservoir will work, but will fish better the further up the canyon you hike. Adams, Royal Wullfs, and stimlulators will all work.
Silver Creek
Silver Creek is flowing at 120 cfs with normal flows about 125. The upper waters are in great shape. Below the RR Ranch the water temps are a bit warm for real active afternoon dry fly fishing, but expect the Creek to rise a bit as the barley comes off, and the longer cooler nights will drop the water temps. By mid August the entire Creek should be in perfect shape.
Silver Creek is in it’s finest moments right now. If you want to witness the madness of a true feeding frenzy, head to the Creek about 7 am and be prepared with Trico. You will need black and white spinners in size 18-24 with 14-15 foot leaders and to 6X or 7X tippets. The trico begins to fall when the air temps reach 68 degrees, hence the early start. After trico you could encounter a few enermis or PMD spinners as well. You will probably encounter some baetis as well. The Baetis spinner fall is best fished with a drowned no hackle or soft hackle just under the surface, as these bugs lay their eggs, by crawling under the water as adults and then drifting away once the job is done. Afternoon Callibaetis in the pond areas will be the may fly of choice. To reach these feeders you will need a float tube, both above and below Kilpatrick Bridge, unless you fish the sloughs. Another option is to go to the less traveled Fish and Game access and fish dry damsels and hoppers. We had a pretty good afternoon yesterday on top with the large bugs. The blue bottle flies are thick at Point of Rocks.
Salmon River
For a nice diversion the upper Salmon is a fun float/fish if you have a rubber raft. I have not heard of any spruce moth activity, but a size 8-10 humpy or Wulff or large Stimulator would be my choice.
I am still incensed about the 20 fish per person limit on Chinook in the upper Salmon. You fly guys could still be fishing.
Hopefully the 700+ sockeye make it to Redfish that have been counted over lower Granite. We need a bright spot on this river.
Closing Notes
With good spring and early summer water conditions our fall fishing should be as good as it gets. If you are sitting at your desk somewhere reading this, and have not had a chance to string up that new BIIX Winston you got for Christmas last year, shoot us an email, find out where and how, grab a plane ticket, and take a break. You probably need one right now, and we can help.
Fish far and fine,
Scott Schnebly
Lost River Outfitters