Sun Valley Fly Fishing Report

Sun Valley / Picabo Area Fishing Report - September 19, 2018

How long will the Hopper fishing last? We get this question a lot. The answer is until the first couple of hard frosts! We have fished Hoppers well into November in past seasons, so keep an eye on the weather and ground. If it gets warm and you are still seeing them hopping and flying, then by all means, fish them!

Silver Creek is seeing a decent October Caddis emergence in the evening. This should switch to early evening / late afternoon as daytime temperatures drop. The Fall Baetis is getting stronger and stronger, the Callibaetis is still present on calm afternoons. The Mahogany Dun will also begin to show more in the middle of the day as temperatures drop. Brown Trout are still making their spawning run and they are ripping into baits at low light. Needless to say the evening Streamer fishing can be very good! Looking forward expect more of the same, but with a narrower and narrower fishing window. The mornings are awfully cold for fishing these days!

The Big Wood continues to show its beautiful fall colors both below and above the water line. The changing leaves and backdrop on the Wood make it worth fishing for that reason alone. Add in a few colorful Rainbows and you have one heck of an awesome day of fishing near Sun Valley! Try fishing Hoppers, Red Quills and Baetis. You may find some October Caddis north of Ketchum. Streamers are also a great bet as well as large standard nymphs like a Pheasant Tail.

The Lower Lost is fishing well. Use your favorite red nymph, like a Copper John, San Juan Worm, or Micro-Nymph in red. If you want to fish the surface Crane Flies and Hoppers are your best bets. There are some Baetis present as well, but anglers willing to fish subsurface will find more action.

The Upper Lost has a few fish willing to eat flies, but there is a lot of walking between them. This area remains a great place to go to have nearly a whole river to yourself and after a busy summer, there is plenty of appeal in that statement alone!

Finally, the South Fork of the Boise continues to pump out the Fall Baetis hatches in the afternoons. This should continue as long as the mild weather holds. Hoppers are also a great bet in the canyon!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Fly Fishing

Sun Valley / Picabo Area Fishing Report - July 18, 2018

Fabulous fishing is the norm right now, but anglers should be adjusting their fishing times. A lot of anglers have been showing up to Silver Creek midmorning and wondering why they aren’t seeing stronger hatches…chances are they are just too late. The earlier the better right now and that also means the later the better as well.

There is afternoon fishing to be had out there, but plan on Nymphing and Terrestrial fishing if you want to tempt the fish in the heat of the day. The best hatches are early and late and the Rusty Spinner is now among the best flies you can carry in your fly box. This dead or dying imitation of most mayflies is deadly when we move into the heat of summer. Just fish it in the appropriate size to match the mayflies you are seeing at any given time.

The Big Wood is fishing really well, although with a slight drop in the action as the Green Drake has waned. Expect the Wood to continue to fish well, although the early / late game is going to become more and more important here as the water drops. Dave’s Hopper is a great midday choice, as are small Stimulators, Parachute Adams, Irresistible Adams and Cicadas. Early and late fish the small flies like the Rusty Spinner or Baetis Sparkle Dun.

The Creek is fishing well with the arrival of the Trico Spinner Falls. The Baetis also continue to show up daily. Anglers can normally find these bugs from 7 to 11 in the a.m. There is a Baetis return in the evening as well. The midday is all about Damsel Flies, Baby Hoppers, Ants and Beetles. Fish these near the banks and the weed beds.

The Upper Lost River is fishing, but can be day to day. Reports have been everything from fabulous fishing to head scratching on days the fish are hard to find. Generally when we find this condition on the Upper Lost system it means the fishery has also become a low light fishery. This is not normal at current volumes, but neither is the extreme heat we have had for weeks on end now.

The Lower Lost is still running high. There may be spotty fishing at spotty access if you’re in the neighborhood. Be able to drop nymphs to the bottom quickly if you head to the Mackay area.

The South Fork of the Boise continues to have decent fishing with Salmon Flies and Cicadas!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Fly Fishing

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - July 5, 2018

The summer bugs are arriving on all our area rivers. The water is dropping and the fishing is fine. It doesn’t matter which river you chose this week, they are all fishing very well! Green Drakes continue on the Big Wood and the Upper Lost River. The first signs of the Trico Spinner Falls are beginning. The Salmon Fly and an abundance of Stoneflies are showing up all over the place. Baby Hoppers have hatched and are growing quickly. Essentially if the water is low enough to fish, it should fish well.

Silver Creek is starting to see Trico action, and with the heat building this week the Spinner Falls should really ramp up. The Callibaetis action should also come on strong. Check the slow water sections for the most action including Sullivan’s Slough and Kilpatrick Pond. Damsel Flies are a sure bet with the heat and as the aquatic vegetation comes up this action will only get better. Be sure to have small Hopper patterns as they begin to grow quickly into adults. Hopefully the river comes up some on the lower stretches to provide the cut bank habitat fish love when eating Hoppers. The aquifer normally provides an influx of water by August, so don’t panic if the lower river doesn’t have the volume you expect. Regardless of the levels the all-day fishing means that there isn’t a bad time to fish the Creek. Morning, noon and night should all produce some excellent opportunities.

The Big Wood and Upper Lost Rivers are really shaping up and really fishing well. Large attractors are a great bet. The Green Drakes are well up into the river system and the Stonefly action is peaking as well. If you want to fish a dropper fly, try the Epoxy Back Green Drake Nymph or a Prince Nymph. Fish the riffles and eddies, and once the current speeds slow, be sure to try the foam lines.

The South Fork of the Boise is still seeing an influx of the Mormon Cricket, but it is also seeing the Salmon Fly hatch as the action moves further and further up the river. With this week’s heat up the action should get very intense, very fast!

Enjoy yourselves this week. The rivers may be busier than what the norm is, so everyone be kind to one another and treat your fellow angler how you’d like to be treated!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Fly Fishing

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - March 21, 2018

This past weekend’s snowfall brought our snow pack up to 90% of average in the Big Wood drainage and 98% of average in the Big Lost drainage. There is more precipitation in the forecast this week, so keep your fingers cross that we keep adding to this total! With residual water still in the aquifer we are heading for another outstanding summer on Silver Creek and other area rivers.

The Steelhead have arrived in Stanley. Expect the numbers to increase by the day. We are currently running guide trips on the water between Challis and Torrey’s Hole if you are interested. Our guides can teach you the traditional ways to swing flies, cast two handed rods or fish the regional strike indicator method used closer to Stanley. There are a few fish in the Sawtooth hatchery as of this writing.

We are on the last week and half of fishing the Big Wood River and the South Fork of the Boise. On the Wood, Midges and Little Black Stone Flies are the fish’s mainstay right now. Expect great dry fly and Streamer action. Fish nymphs if you must, but anglers willing to walk, and slowly hunt for rising fish will most likely find them. If you head to the South Fork, Nymphing may be more productive. If you go, keep in mind fish will be migrating toward spawning grounds. This normally means an upstream push of fish as they stage up for prespawn mode.

The Lost River remains open to fishing all season, with no closures. The tailwater area in Mackay is fabulous Spring time water. Expect Midges and maybe an afternoon Baetis hatch on the right day. Walk the river slowly and look for fish sitting on gravel bars near the drop in points of the runs. Be careful to stay of fish that may be using gravel areas for Redds. These are spawning beds and are they clearly distinguishable by the clean swept gravels on the bottom. If you see clean gravels in an area the size of a serving platter, don’t walk in these areas, and don’t mess with the fish if they are sitting on these beds.

We are entering a great time of the season, where exploration pays in big ways. Prespawning fish are generally big and aggressive and they can be found in big groups in a variety of areas. Get out there and find them!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Fly Fishing

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - February 13, 2018

Outstanding fly fishing continues this month as the mild winter weather continues in the Sun Valley area. The skiers may be having an off season this winter, but the fly anglers are all smiles right now, as high catch rates and sizable fish continue to be the norm. We see no change in this pattern in the immediate future, so get your waders on and get out there!

Fly anglers that have been on Silver Creek the past few weekends are sending us pictures of one giant Brown Trout after another. These are normally the pics we see taken in the darkness of a summer night while Mouse fishing. This February the “Hog Shots” on the Creek just keep coming! It is the perfect conditions of warm enough weather and just enough tint in the normally gin clear spring creek waters.

The weather is very comfortable, allowing anglers to stay out throughout the course of the day. Couple this with the tint in the water that keeps the big fish out in the open and on the hunt all day and you have the makings of an epic fishery.

We have about two weeks left to fish Silver Creek before the season closes for spawning. The fishing is almost all Streamers and is relatively easy for those that can cast big flies decent distances. Even if you can get your fly only halfway across the river, you have a great chance to catch a nice fish.

Try to stay on the bank while you fish, so they don’t feel your presence in the water. DO get in the water for releasing the fish and especially for photos. It is super important to “Keep ‘em Wet” while releasing. Try to get your photo of the fish partially in the water, or a quick lift for a picture while the water is still dripping off the fish. Keep in mind, handling fish is a skill set that is as important as casting, reading the water or any other part of fly fishing.

The Big Wood and Lower Lost remain very productive fisheries with the typical winter flies like Zebra Nymphs and Tie-Down Midges. Anglers can expect a nice combination of nymph fishing and dry fly fishing throughout the day. With March quickly approaching keep your eyes open for the Little Black Stonefly! This wingless bug should start showing up soon. If you see it, tie on a Prince Nymph and swing your fly close to the bank!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Fly Fishing

Sun Valley Area Fly Fishing Report - August 30, 2017

Our late summer heat wave continues and with it means all the same late summer bugs. The rivers continue to drop and as they do the fish are filling in the voids left by the falling water. Areas that looked fishy a week ago, but had not fish are going to start filling with fish as the flows decrease and allow more dispersal. Expect a lot of fish movement in the coming weeks on all our area waters.

Silver Creek is just a gem in the afternoon right now. The Callibaetis show when the wind is down is incredible. The action starts after lunch and peaks before dinner. The Hopper action remains strong, although the fish are getting wiser and not eating as aggressively. Be sure you let the fish take the fly well, and then set the hook hard. Try to fish across the current as much as you can to get the best hook setting angle. Facing downstream and casting can be effective, but you inevitably will be pulling the fly upstream out of the fish’s mouth. The morning on the river is decent with Trico Spinners, Baetis and some Callibaetis. Expect more of the same great action in the coming weeks!

The Big Wood and the Upper Lost Rivers continue to change as flows abate. The fishing is fabulous on both rivers. Hoppers are peaking, and small attractors are taking fish. Parachute Adams and Royal Trudes are hot flies, as well as Flying Ants. Trico action is a possibility in a few areas where the water is flat enough, although the high water has taken most of the Trico action away.

The Lower Lost River is fishing pretty well with Crane Flies, Hoppers and Nymphs. Small Zebra Midges in Red and Black are a good choice as well as Copper Johns in Red and Copper. Fishing these two patterns in tandem can be very effective under a strike indicator.

The South Fork of the Boise has been dropped to nearly wadable flows, but just not quite. Small boats can still make the float and a bit more wading action is available, but do it with caution. Expect to see a few Pink Alberts and a large amount of Hoppers. Some Nymphing around the boulders and in the riffles can be effective. Small Pheasant Tails and Copper Johns are a good choice as well as a Red Squirrel Nymph.

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Fly Fishing

Sun Valley Area Fly Fishing Report - August 30, 2017

Our late summer heat wave continues and with it means all the same late summer bugs. The rivers continue to drop and as they do the fish are filling in the voids left by the falling water. Areas that looked fishy a week ago, but had not fish are going to start filling with fish as the flows decrease and allow more dispersal. Expect a lot of fish movement in the coming weeks on all our area waters.

Silver Creek is just a gem in the afternoon right now. The Callibaetis show when the wind is down is incredible. The action starts after lunch and peaks before dinner. The Hopper action remains strong, although the fish are getting wiser and not eating as aggressively. Be sure you let the fish take the fly well, and then set the hook hard. Try to fish across the current as much as you can to get the best hook setting angle. Facing downstream and casting can be effective, but you inevitably will be pulling the fly upstream out of the fish’s mouth. The morning on the river is decent with Trico Spinners, Baetis and some Callibaetis. Expect more of the same great action in the coming weeks!

The Big Wood and the Upper Lost Rivers continue to change as flows abate. The fishing is fabulous on both rivers. Hoppers are peaking, and small attractors are taking fish. Parachute Adams and Royal Trudes are hot flies, as well as Flying Ants. Trico action is a possibility in a few areas where the water is flat enough, although the high water has taken most of the Trico action away.

The Lower Lost River is fishing pretty well with Crane Flies, Hoppers and Nymphs. Small Zebra Midges in Red and Black are a good choice as well as Copper Johns in Red and Copper. Fishing these two patterns in tandem can be very effective under a strike indicator.

The South Fork of the Boise has been dropped to nearly wadable flows, but just not quite. Small boats can still make the float and a bit more wading action is available, but do it with caution. Expect to see a few Pink Alberts and a large amount of Hoppers. Some Nymphing around the boulders and in the riffles can be effective. Small Pheasant Tails and Copper Johns are a good choice as well as a Red Squirrel Nymph.

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Fly Fishing

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - July 5th, 2017

The rivers are becoming fishable! There is still a ton of volume on our area waters, but the clarity is pretty well there. The rivers will become more and more fishable with each passing day from this point on, but be aware they are still dangerous. Good decision making is a must. There are no fish worth getting hurt over.

If you decide to explore rivers other than Silver Creek, please leave your dog at home. Fish with a friend. Wear a wading belt tight. Don’t take small children with you, and do not try to cross a river that is pushing you.

If you head out on our freestone streams like the Big Wood or Upper Lost take large attractor dries and drop big bead head nymphs below them. You may have to walk or drive some distance between spots, but exploration can be a fun part of the sport! Streamer fishing can also be a great way to fish high water, as it allows anglers to cover more area in a short amount of time. Double nymph rigs under a strike indicator can also be productive.

The South Fork of the Boise is mostly open again. The boat ramps are open and there are a few campsites still closed, but the fishing is getting better and better. Salmon Flies, Cicadas and Hoppers are all in play. We have had reports of logs fully crossing the river below the Cow Creek Bridge and in the Canyon stretch. If you float, make sure you scout, make sure you have the skill set to deal with these obstructions.

Silver Creek continues to produce great fishing. The Trico has been coming and going on the lower river in the morning hours and we’ve even had a 3rd reoccurrence of the Brown Drakes at Point of Rocks. This may last until the weekend if we are lucky. If nothing else it shows what an odd year we are having, but also how productive the Creek has been with the influx of more spring water! Callibaetis, Damsel Flies, Ants and Beetles are all still good afternoon and evening bets. The afternoon action has been starting around the noon hour. The Baby Hoppers are growing fast and they should come into play in the next week or two.

Sullivan’s Slough on the Nature Conservancy property is beginning to fish better and better as the Callibaetis action continues to grow. It is a great place to check in if the river fishing is slow.

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Chuck Huber and a gorgeous Brown Trout from Silver Creek, Idaho

Sun Valley Fly Fishing

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report, February 23, 2017

Excellent fishing conditions are upon us this week. Temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, and partly cloudy days should put us back in a rhythm. The last round of weather was very unsettled and it was apparent in the fishing. The action has not been fast or furious, but the fish that are eating well seem to be in the larger size range.

A trickle of pre-spawning Rainbows are beginning to make their way into the Stanton Crossing reach of the Big Wood. There are even a few early redds in some of the gravel channels. Give this area another week or two and it should be very good fishing. The biggest challenge now is the parking. Currently, Stanton Crossing camping area is it for the whole area. If you go, be willing to walk!

We only have a week left to fish on Silver Creek before it closes for the spring spawning season. The last two weeks of fishing on the Creek are often the best Streamer fishing days of the year. Concentrate on the Point of Rocks and Picabo Bridge areas as the fish will move into this stretch looking for slightly warmer water temperatures.

Anglers that are eager to get out and fish their favorite freestone rivers like the Big Wood better get out there now. There are about 6 weeks left of this style of fishing at these flows. When the rivers reopen at the end of May we can expect them to be high and unfishable until the first week or two of July. The run-off this year should be a spectacle as we approach nearly 200% snow pack.

With this said, June is going to be a Silver Creek month, so if you’ve been shy about fishing this spring creek, it’s time to come out of your shell! Silver Creek can be a forgiving fishery the first few weeks of the season. This is a great time for those looking to learn the Creek. Anglers can get a head start by studying the June hatches and gearing up for a spring creek fishery. This means fishing soft rods and long leaders. Now is the time to start practicing! It would also be a good time to get a lay of the land. Scout the Creek from top to bottom while it is closed and quiet. When opening day comes, you’ll know exactly where you want to be!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Fishing Report - October 27, 2016

Fall and Winter continue to battle for supremacy this week which results in some pretty awesome fishing all over the place, but especially on Silver Creek! The Mahogany Dun continues to swarm several times a day, beginning around lunch time and then off and on all day until the sun sets. The Fall Baetis is still present and we continue to fish Hopers, Ants and Beetles with a lot of success!

The Brown Trout are in full spawning mode now and there are “Redds” Spawning beds all over the Creek. If you see these clear patches of gravel, stay out of them and leave these fish alone so they can complete their spawning cycle, much the way you and I would like to complete ours! With that said, fishing an egg pattern behind and around these Redds could result in some nice Rainbow hook ups!

The Lost River is worth skipping this week, unless you see flows return to normal. For reasons unknown to us, the flows on the Lower Lost have been reduced to a trickle, forcing fish to pool up and line up. The flows have been recording below 50 CFS.  Wait for flows to return to the 100 CFS mark before you waste your time driving all the way over the hill. It pretty much has become winter on the Upper Lost and it looks like it could get white up there again this week.

In any case, no matter where you fish right now, stay on top of the weather and road conditions. Be prepared for winter to show up unannounced at any time. Don’t get caught in a bad situation that you could have prevented with a few minutes of extra prep time. Bring extra warm clothes, keep your gas tank full, keep a sleeping bag and some food and water in your vehicle. Be sure to charge your cell phone batteries and TELL someone where you are going fishing and when you will return!

With all these preparations now made, think about heading to the South Fork of the Boise for Fall Baetis, October Caddis, Crane Flies and Hopper fishing. The South Fork really turns off and on this time of the year, so if you go one day and it isn’t good. Don’t give up on the river…there can be some awfully big fall hatches in the bottom of that spectacular canyon!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley / Picabo Area Fishing Update - June 10, 2016

Silver Creek continues to be one of the only games in town for anglers. The good news is the fishing is still great! The wind yesterday kept the hatches from bringing a lot of fish to the surface, but anglers in the Sloughs did well. Guide Chad Chorney put some of his guests on beautiful Rainbows despite the wind. 

The weekend should be cooler on the Creek. Expect more Baetis and a continuation of PMD madness! The Green Drakes are showing more and more as well as the Blue Damsels. 

Ants and Beetles are still your best friend when things get tough on the river. 

Our other local rivers remain high, off color and dangerous. Hopefully  cooler temps will brig the flows down and we can be fishing these rivers sometime next week. We'll wait and see and report back on Monday.

Have a great weekend. Be safe. Be kind. Have fun!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - March 23, 2016

Adaptability and having a lot of arrows in your proverbial quiver seems to be the key to success on most of our local rivers these days. Rapidly changing conditions both in the atmosphere and the water itself have made for some challenging days. It seems as though the anglers that have the willingness to switch techniques from run to run, river to river are doing just fine. Anglers that are stuck with one bag of tricks are not doing well.

The Big Wood is fishing well if you are switching to dry flies when the fish are up, nymphs when the water type is perfect and streamers the rest of the time! Anglers fishing closer to Ketchum are doing better than anglers fishing closer to Bellevue. Skwala Stoneflies have suddenly made an appearance on the Wood, signaling an early start to this year’s hatches perhaps? It is also a signal of change in the Wood as this is not an insect we consider most years in March.

Again, adaptability, letting go of what we think we know and believe to be true on our area rivers is important. There is no doubt that we are seeing a fundamental shift in how we fish in the Sun Valley area. Brown Drakes keep coming to Silver Creek earlier and earlier each season, Callibaetis is becoming a season long hatch instead of a heat of summer occurrence and more and more we are seeing odd events on the river and even bugs we’ve never seen before on our area waters.

No alarms here! It is all good. In fact we love the change and we love that it keeps anglers on our toes and keeps fishing interesting, especially for anglers that have been plying the Valley waters for several decades.

If you head out this week to any of our area waters, load for bear! This spring should continue to bring us events we were not expecting. Some good, some bad, but all interesting. Enjoy the warmish daytime temperatures and get out there!

Your best bets this week are the Lost River, the Salmon River for Steelhead, the Big Wood below Magic Reservoir, and the Big Wood north of Hailey continuing north of Ketchum a few miles. Don’t get discouraged by a tough hour or bad run on the river, just stay on the move, stay flexible with your technique and enjoy one of the best times of the year to be a local angler!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - March 16, 2016

The weather keeps coming and with it comes the water our fish so desperately need all summer! Great news for fish and anglers alike! With nighttime temps in the 20s for the coming week, we should be holding onto this snow until the end of the month.

On the Big Wood anglers should expect a return to winter fishing conditions. Expect exceptional Midge hatches accompanied by the Little Black Stones. Be prepared to nymph and fish the dry. Standard winter patterns are all you need; Zebra Nymph, Brassie, Tie-Down Midge and Griffiths Gnat. If you start before the hatches try Streamer fishing. The pre-spawn Rainbows should be very aggressive right now.

Silver Creek remains closed, but the water levels are to the tops of the banks, giving the Creek a good flush. Expect an amazing Opening Weekend down here in Picabo!

The Lost continues to fish well. Bring all your same Big Wood River patterns and enjoy some of the season’s best fishing near Mackay for the next month or so. Don’t forget the Lost can be a great fall back for Steelhead anglers when the Salmon decides to blow out. That shouldn’t be the case this week as temps remain cold and the forecast isn’t showing a lot of precipitation.

Steelhead should be getting on the move up on the Salmon River with a little influx of moisture and daytime temps warm enough to melt some snow off the banks and giving the fish the sign that it’s time to start moving up the system. Fishing should be better closer to Challis the next few weeks than the upstream portion, but the fish are where you find them!

Anglers fishing the canyon water below Magic Reservoir have been treated to some excellent fishing. It may not be fast and furious, but it is a good place to try for some big fish, both Browns and Rainbows.

Watch the wind in Hagerman for the calm days. Those days are ideal for sight fishing Carp in shallow water. Bring “hook up” patterns like you’d fish for Bonefish. Damsel Flies tied with small bead chain eyes are very effective.

One thing is for certain this time of year, angles have decisions to make! There is a lot to do and a lot of room to do it. Get out there and enjoy yourself this spring. It is a time of year full of surprises and world class fishing!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - February 2, 2016

This is one of those weeks or two week periods where we like to say, “They don’t call it Sun Valley for nothing!” Bright, sunny days should not hamper the fishing as the fish still have to eat. What it does mean is that stealth is as important as any part or your fishing repertoire.

We are at a point in the winter season, where most fish have seen at least a few winter flies. They will continue to eat the Midges, but with less abandon, while they search for the true flies and trailing shucks amongst the foam lines.

The sky may be sunny this week, but you may want to layer up just so that you can creep up the snowy banks on your hands and knees in order to get the best casting position available. This holds true when Nymphing in shallow water, thin riffles and tail outs of pools. It is even more important is you are going to stalk rising fish.

For one reason or another it is an easy thing to let your guard down in the winter. Perhaps the easy nature of the fishing, at least in early winter, or perhaps it’s the starkness of it all. In either case, take a fly angler, put them in a dark green parka and silhouette them against the snow.  It is easy to see why you need to stay behind the rising fish while keeping a low profile.

Bright days on the Big Wood River generally means shorter fishing windows because of colder temps. If you are eager to get out the door before the temps hit a reasonable mark think about using the clear skies to travel.

If you don’t have the whole day, think about hitting Silver Creek with Streamers. The Waterfowl Hunting season is over and the Creek is very quiet right now. The Creek is open to fish downstream of Hwy 20. Think about fishing the Willows and Point of Rocks. Snow Shoes are not a terrible idea if you want to get well into the access points.

If you have more time, look at the South Fork of the Boise and the Lower Lost Rivers. The South Fork can have some decent Midge hatches, and is a good place to go for big fish. The lower Lost is similar, although maybe a bit more Nymphing in the bright sun. It is also a great place to catch huge Rainbows!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - October 26, 2015

Significantly cooler temperatures have arrived in the Valley which should shorten the fishing windows quite a bit. Cold nights will send the Brown Trout into full blown spawning mode, so be prepared to see fish digging Redds, and if so, please be careful not to walk on these “trout nests.” It is also important that you head to the rivers with the ability to be flexible. The late fall weather can provide days where only Streamers are going to work, days when it’s Dry Fly madness and days where Nymphing will pay off. Be loaded for bear and make sure you are including your winter Midge selection in the bag when you go.

Silver Creek is still fishing really well with Mice and Streamers taking the pre-spawn Browns regularly. You may not catch a boat load of fish, but you may hook into the biggest and brightest fish of your season. Fall Baetis will continue to appear until the snow flies, so on calm - warmish days, be ready for this.

The South Fork of the Boise is one of our favorite Fall Baetis fisheries, and the canyon (when the wind isn’t blowing) can be a good 10 degrees warmer than the Sun Valley area. Look for the long flat glides on the river and brig all your Silver Creek flies, leaders and tippets.

The Lost River is still running very low and the river is a bit hit and miss right now. It all depends on the conditions being right. When things are calm and warm expect Baetis but be prepared for a full day of Nymphing as well. Have the color red in your selection and make sure you bring a nice selection of Pheasant Tails as well.

The Big Wood is a great option when fishing windows are short. Without the drive times to the far away rivers, fishing time may be maximized. If you need a quick fix, hit the Wood with Fall Baetis, Prince Nymphs, Hares Ears, Zebra Nymphs and Brassies.

Remember, fingerless gloves and a warm hat will extend your fishing day and make it fun and comfortable. Take the extra steps to stay warm and dry for the best time possible. Have an extra change of clothes with you and a spare car key. This is not the time of the year for shortcuts or last minute decisions. Be safe and enjoy the glorious amount of quietude on the rivers this week!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - October 19, 2015

True Fall came in with the weekend and it looks like it plans to stay until winter takes over. We have heard many an angler frustrated by the lack of consistent hatches, but that should all have changed by now. Not to sound like a broken record, but the Fall Baetis hatches should be significant as we head toward November and Mahogany Duns continue to both frustrate and inspire anglers on a day to day basis.

The angler numbers in the past week have dropped to a season low, meaning you can fish to your hearts content while still experiencing the last hatches and spinner falls of the year. Spawning Brown and Brook Trout are dropping eggs into almost all the river systems, often making Nymphing a better choice than fishing the dry even when the hatches are on! When this happens it becomes an angler’s personal choice if you are going to fish the top or the bottom.

Some great opportunities also exist this week a bit farther from Sun Valley, as low flows make for some exciting fishing and easy access on the Lower Lost River and the South Fork of the Boise. Both are great places to fish Baetis this time of the year, and on a pretty fall day the drive is worth it as much as the fishing.

IF you are headed to the South Fork of the Boise and you are an Upland Hunter don’t forget your shotgun and your bird dog as the Chukar population in areas above the river seems to be coming back strong since the fires of a few years ago. This is a great cast and blast opportunity. We like to go early and hunt while it’s cool and once it’s warm enough for the Baetis, normally about 1:00 p.m. we drop to the river corridor and start looking at our favorite runs for rising fish.

Fishing windows are short these days so try to maximize your time by arriving early and staying late. The afternoon and early evenings will be more productive than the mornings as the nighttime temperatures reach the freezing mark in many places. So by early, we mean sometime around 10:00 a.m. and by late we mean fish until sunset.

If things get too cold out there come into Picabo Angler and check out the new fingerless KAST gloves. They are a local Idaho Falls company and are producing some of the finest cold weather gear in the industry! We are proud to sell their gear in our store!

Happy Fishing and Hunting Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - September 28, 2015

Cloud cover means Fall Baetis! Fall Baetis means blanket Baetis covering the rivers. Blanket Baetis covering the rivers means lots of big rising fish for you and me! These little aquatic insects are just one more reason we love the fall in Sun Valley. Low water coupled with this bug brings fish to the surface that otherwise we would not see most of the year.

It also means fish will be moving their feeding lanes to new areas. Anglers need to begin concentrating on the slick water tail-outs of the runs on most rivers. The diminutive size of these little Baetis means the fish need to find calm enough water to maximize their opportunity to eat them, hence spending the hatch times in the back of the pools.

Anglers that fish Silver Creek frequently will find that the skill set they have learned on this spring creek will quickly translate to success on all the area rivers when the Fall Baetis arrives. Fishing 6X tippets is nearly mandatory. Approaching the fish at the right angles and with a good amount of stealth is a must. Finally, having an excellent presentation and a light handed hook set are keys to success. Choose small patterns that you can see well and fish the softest rod you are willing.

The Mahogany Dun has been growing in numbers and regularity on Silver Creek. Expect this to continue, and most importantly be willing to switch your fly back and forth between Mahogany and Baetis Duns readily. The fish you are targeting are going to switch, so switch with them.

The Lower Lost River continues to fish really well. A little Trico activity continues as well as Baetis and Crane Fly activity. The Nymphing has been excellent as well. Fish small and red when Nymphing. A little Black Zebra Midge is also a great choice.

The Fall Baetis on the South Fork of the Boise is one of the highlights of the fishing season around here. It may begin a little later in the season than on our more local rivers, and the fire/slide activity has knocked it back a bit, but it remains a great choice to spend a fall day.

Overall this is a good time of the year to have a lot of excellent Baetis patterns and move around from river to river. The fly selection remains nearly the same on all the local waters, so get out there and experience new rivers, new runs, and enjoy the changing of the seasons!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - September 21, 2015

Perpetual autumn will never end. This is the sense that we get this time of year as we string together beautiful day after beautiful day, hatch after hatch and fish after fish until one day a dark gray sky rolls in, ushering winter to the mountains.

With the long autumn comes all the good stuff that goes with it. Upland hunters have begun Chukar and Hun seasons. The Grouse season is well underway and throughout the valley wing shooters are reporting excellent days in the field. The fall also brings on the Mahogany Dun which had finally showed up on the Creek! After a long season of watching the fish get smarter and smarter, the Mahogany Dun seems to be all that is needed to turn the fish “less smart” again. Expect the Mahogany to really pick up steam by the weekend when cooler temperatures again arrive to turn leaves yellow and remind everyone it’s firewood season.

The Western Red Quill also continues to produce spectacular days on the Wood, again bringing fish to the surface with a little more abandon, and making all of us fly anglers feel like there is hope for us in the low flows of the later season!

The biggest common thread on all our rivers right now is the Fall Baetis. This tiny insect is a favorite of local trout as the diminutive size is more than made up for by the abundant volume of insects hatching. Keep in mind when you fish this hatch, the fish are really keyed up on the movement of this little bug. The constantly swinging abdomen is a sure tell for the fish that they are eating the real thing! The best way to imitate this movement is to fish an extended body fly on an open loop, allowing the fly to swing freely on its hackle tips. Anglers can read about this technique in more detail, as well as other “tricks of the trade” in John Huber’s book Lessons of Fairsized Creek.

Our more distant fisheries, like the South Fork of the Boise and the Big Lost River are also fishing very well, although the daily windows are shrinking rapidly, forcing angler into the choice of long drive versus short hatch, or staying local to maximize fishing time.

Now, is truly one of the best times of the year to fish, and like the trout, anglers need to take advantage of the waning warm days and fish hard until old man winter decides it’s time for yet another change!

Happy Fishing Everyone!

Sun Valley Area Fishing Report - September 14, 2015

True fall weather is upon us. It’s time to put the chains and shovel in your fishing rig, pack some extra water and non-perishable food items. Throw in your sleeping bag and extra change of clothes and travel with a full tank of gas. Now you are ready for fishing at winter’s doorstep.

The talk of the local fishing world these days is the Western Red Quill that has been bringing fish to the surface on the Big Wood for several weeks now. Expect more of this action to continue and move up the system this week. Plan on the best action closer to Ketchum than Bellevue and plan on fishing banker’s hours! Don’t go buy a bunch of new flies for this bug, just use your favorite leftover Green Drake patterns! Fall Baetis should begin to show in huge numbers under the cloud cover and inclement weather that is predicted.

On the Creek we are crossing our fingers and toes that this week’s true fall weather will bring off the Mahogany Dun in massive numbers. This hatch has been present on the Henry’s Fork for some time now, so we are due any day. Once we see the Mahogany, the Fall Baetis will come with them. In the meantime Baetis, Callibaetis, Hoppers and Ants are the ticket. The best fishing remains the mouse fishing after dark. With heavy cloud cover and pre-spawning Brown Trout both present, expect the Mousing to only get better!

To the East, the Lower Lost continues to have the best morning hatches with Trico Spinner Falls, although they should begin to wane this week and be replaced by Baetis. The Crane Flies should remain active under dry skies.

The Upper Lost is fishing well, but spotty. If you know the area well, it may be worth hitting favorite runs, but the low water makes it tough to search for fish. If you don’t know the area well, you will have to walk a lot!

Don’t stop fishing under the rain this week. Despite the rain temporarily wiping out dry fly fishing, it will bring out the biggest fish in the rivers. The low light and lack of activity means big pre-spawn Browns will be looking to fatten up in a big way. The cloud cover gives them this opportunity and no baitfish or mouse will be safe this week!

Enjoy the fall hatches, stay prepared for the inclement weather, and stay safe out there!

Happy Fishing Everyone!