Fishing Report

Silver Creek Happy New year! Presently the temps have been down to 5 below zero at night with daytime highs in the mid to high 20’s. Sufficient to say with these temps and slush ice floating in the stream, there’s not much fishing.

Big Wood River Like Silver Creek, the slush ice is flowing on the River. Winter fishing will improve once temps rise probably in February. The good news is that the winter snow-pack and water levels are way ahead of last year and our at 90% of average. This bodes well for summer water levels.

Big Lost River Dido for the Big Lost River. Too cold to fish. Temps can turn around quickly for the winter fisherman. The river drainage is about 80% of average. We will no doubt receive more snow in February and March adding to our snow-pack and summer water flows.

Mackay Reservoir If your an Ice fisherman with a portable tent of sled/hut, its worth a try. The water levels have risen to 48 ft.

Silver Creek The weather has been somewhat of a mixed bag. During the last days of July, we saw some light rain showers which cleared skies and cooled temps. The Creek is fishing well in the mornings with Trico Spinner falls. There are a few PMD’s, Baetis and Callibaetis mixed in. The Blue Damsels are out as well and trout have keyed in on these bugs. Evenings are producing a few Caddis right on dark. Hopper fishing is looking good with a robust population.

Big Wood River The river is flowing at 200 cfs in Hailey. We have seen a few Tricos in the mornings and great Caddis hatches in the evenings. Hopper fishing has picked up.

Big Lost drainage The lower river is flowing at 470 cfs. Tricos are out and there’s a few PMDs as well. There are many Craneflies buzzing around as well. Wading is a bit difficult but fishing is good. The upper river is fishing fairly well but the early/mid season hatches are finished. Evening Caddis activity is strong. Wading is easy now.

Mackay Reservoir The reservoir has dropped 16 feet since its peak of 66 feet in mid June. Its now at 50 feet. Fishing remains good. Look for the Kokanee Salmon to start their spawning run by the 3rd or 4th week of August.

Silver Creek Now that the warm summer temps have arrived, fishing has been best early mornings thru mid day and again late evenings. We are seeing a few Callibaetis hatches and the Blue Damsels are starting to increase in numbers and becoming a real player. Hoppers are starting to show along with other terrestrials such as Ants & Beetles. See photo of a stunner Brown trout caught along a shadowy bank early morning while I was guiding David on a size 12 Black Beetle.

Big Wood River The river has dropped considerably and is now flowing at 625 CFS in Hailey. With the warm weather look for water temps to increase which should kick off the first major hatches of the summer. Those hatches are Green Drakes, Western Quills, Little Yellow Stones and Golden Stone Flies. Once these hatches get going, this allows for some of the best fishing of the entire summer/fall.

Big Lost River The Lower Lost River below the reservoir is flowing at 540 CFS. The Nymph fishing is stellar! Like the Big Wood, the first major hatches are about to begin. Look for PMD’s and Little Yellow Stones. The River above the reservoir has dropped and is now at a level that anglers can wade carefully. Keep an eye out for the Green Drakes to start hatching in the near future.

Mackay Reservoir The reservoir is full and at 66 feet. With the snowpack runoff done, the inflow is dropping and the reservoir is slowly dropping. Fishing is great!

Silver Creek The general Idaho fishing season opens May 25th, Memorial Day weekend. So far this May, temps have generally been cool. We have had some snow above 8000 feet and rain on the valley floors. Because of the coolish temps, the winters snowpack has been releasing very slowly. The wildflowers are just beginning to bloom at the lower elevations and the hills are as green as it gets. Beautiful to say the least with clear blue skies and snow-capped peaks. The daytime highs have been anywhere from the mid to high 40’s and up to 60. Once Silver Creek opens this coming weekend, there should be a few hatches to chase with rising trout. Look for Callibaetis, Blue Wing Olives and Midge. The Brown Drake hatch will probably show sometime the first week of June depending on temps.

Big Wood River The river is fairly high, 1000 cfs and fluctuating in color depending on temps. We looked it over today and it has a slight greenish color with fairly good clarity. This is because of the coolish temps and slow snowpack melt. As soon as it warms up into daytime temps of the high 60’s and into the 70’s, look for the river to rise more and turn a brownish or chocolate color. There is still a fair amount of snow to melt at the highest elevations. I would predict that the snowpack runoff will end by mid to late June and the river clarity will be spot on. Once water temps rise, the first Mayfly and Stonefly hatches begin and this produces some of the best dry fly fishing for the entire season.

Big Lost River The river above Mackay reservoir is flowing at approximately 590 cfs and is slightly dirty as it enters the reservoir. The river below the Reservoir is flowing at 425 cfs and has great clarity. I guided the lower Lost River yesterday and we caught some nice Rainbows nymphing. I saw a few Mayfly’s hatching in the afternoon, but it was a light hatch. The fishing on the Lower Lost River has been fairly good all spring but you need to take caution as to where you wade at levels above 300 cfs.

Mackay Reservoir Thankfully the dam release gates have been repaired and it has fill back up this winter/spring. It is fairly full. Fishing has been good with streamers. Hopefully the reservoir will gain more height with snowpack runoff. This should happen soon with warmer temps.

Silver Creek Spring has seemed to arrived here in Southern Idaho. Temps are starting to reach into the mid to high 40″s. It could get into the low 50’s by next week. Fishing will remain open until the last day in March then with the general summer season, reopens Memorial Day weekend. Get out and enjoy the last bit of the winter season. There has been some great midge fishing! Streamer fishing is also productive.

Big Wood River The river has the same open dates as Silver Creek mentioned above. It closes and the end of March and reopens Memorial Day weekend. Nymph, Midge and Streamer fishing techniques are all working. The river is low and its easy to find and sight fish to trout on sunny days.

Big Lost River The Lost River is flowing at 90 cfs. Its fishing much the same as the Big Wood. This river is open year round with no closures. Get out and enjoy!