Sun Valley Fly Fishing

March 15, 2018 / Picabo Angler

There are 2 more weeks to fish the Big Wood River before the end of the winter season. The river is closed for spawning activity April 1st. Opening Day this year is on May 26th. Mark your calendars for our Opening Day Eve party with Comic Hank Patterson and the band Hillfolk Noir! We’ll follow that up with our free BBQ on Saturday. It is never too soon to save the date!

Silver Creek is closed, but if you head out on the Big Wood the next few weeks, cover a bunch of water around lunch time and look for fish rising in the middle of the runs. The Midge and Little Black Stonefly activity is peaking and the fish are looking for these insects! The Streamer fishing isn’t bad if you want to catch a slightly larger class of fish, but in fewer numbers.

For rising fish, try a Griffith’s Gnat tied to 5X leader material, and then trail a Tie-Down Midge on 6X about 16 inches from the Gnat. Fishing the Midge can be a war of attrition so make good casts, keep a low profile, and stay in the fish’s lane as much as you can! If a fish rises within a foot of either of your flies, especially the low riding Tie-Down Midge, set the hook! This is a great time to break out your favorite Silver Creek rod, as the softer and slower the better chance you have of landing these fish on light tippets.

The Upper and Lower Lost River remains open to fishing all year and the lower Lost has been fishing pretty well. Take all the same flies, gear and techniques you use for the Big Wood. The Upper Lost may be frozen, we have no recent reports of anyone making the trip. The Lower Lost is the main reason no one has made the trip! Great Midge fishing and an occasional Blue Winged Olive occurrence keeps anglers happy as clams on the lower!

The South Fork of the Boise also closes entirely at the end of March, so if you want to get your licks in there, now I the time. It will be until next fall until it’s most likely at wadeble levels again. It’s all the same winter flies and gear. Watch the weather at the end of the week. It could be snowy or muddy in the canyon. Plan well and be safe!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

This is what Silver Creek will look like in 30 more days!

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