June 7th Double R Report

Friday, June 6, 2014:

SOUTH FORK OF THE BOISE!

Today a friend and I made the 70 mile drive from Picabo to the turn off for Anderson Dam, heading down the canyon road to the South Fork of the Boise for a tailwater venue.  The South Fork is running low and clear, reportedly at 300 cfs but rumors are that the flow will soon be increased.  The slopes were blanketed with blue Bachelor Buttons, itself worth the drive.  I hadn’t been in the canyon since the fire several years ago.  While there are some silt deposits resulting from three landslides, most of the runs have cleared out.  We arrived mid-morning and encountered Cicadas, thicker in the first 5 miles below the Dam.  As we drove further down the canyon we ran into the beginning of an earlier than usual Salmon Fly hatch.  In mid-afternoon the hatch of black bodied caddis began to come off.  Success was had on size 18 and 20 black bodied Elk Hair Caddis.   If I were to return to the South Fork (and I may do that next week), I would plan to arrive mid-afternoon and fish stonefly nymphs and Salmon Fly dries in the upper canyon, then drive downstream and fish black bodied caddis dries in the glides and holes until dark . . . . all this after stopping for a burger and shake in Fairfield.  Picabo Angler has a nice selection of Cicada patterns. 

On the Double R Ranch we continue to see sporadic hatches of Pale Morning Dun mayflies and success can be yours if the wind stays down.  We continue to see some speckled wing Callibaetis spinners out in the field and some mid-sized Baetis spinners.  The Pond continues to fish well, mostly subsurface action.

Doug Andres

Stream Keeper