General Conditions
The Dog Days of Summer are here. It is hot out and now is the time to get on the water before things get too warm to fish responsibly later in the season. Hatches are in full swing across many of our local rivers and there are plenty of opportunities to throw big bugs on top right now. We just restocked our fly selection, come in and we will get you dialed in.
Boise River – In Town
The In-Town stretch has been fishing pretty consistent lately. We are seeing a good mix of bugs on the water including caddis, PMDs, midges, and grasshoppers are thick along the banks. Nymphing has still been the most productive method. Most fish are sitting down in the deeper holes and tail outs picking off bugs, so get your flies down to them. Caddis pupa and caddis emerger patterns have been the better producers lately. Mid-day, you can expect to see more fish up in the shallower, faster moving water.
Float season is in full effect which makes fishing from Barber Park to Ann Morrison Park tricky. Get out early, take advantage of the cooler temperatures, and give yourself some room before the river fills up with recreational traffic. Carry a water thermometer and check temps throughout the day. Once you start seeing upper 60s and into the low 70s, it is time to take a break and wait for the evening to cool things back down.
Fly Selection:
#16-18 Duracell, #14-16 Copper Top Duracell, #16-18 Roza Red Tag, #18-20 Tungsten Chilli Pepper, #16-18 Tungsten Jig Perdigon Purple, #14-16 Black Bead Birds Nest, #16-18 Two Bit Hooker Purple, #18-22 Split Case BWO, #16-18 Split Case PMD, #18-20 Juju Baetis, #18-20 Tungsten Slim Shady, #16-20 Flashback Pheasant Tail, #16-20 Rusty Spinner, #14-16 DOB Caddis, #16-18 Corn Fed Caddis
Owyhee River
The Owyhee has been our most productive fishery this year and we have been seeing some quality fish this season. The PMD hatch is steady right now, typically kicking off in the afternoon around 1 to 2 PM and carrying on into the evening with a solid spinner fall before dark. Nymphing with midges and smaller BWOs has been the call in the mornings and early afternoons, but once the PMDs start coming off the surface fishing picks up in a hurry.
Hoppers and beetles are worth throwing, especially with a smaller dropper hanging below. Fish are being caught throughout the entire river from the hot springs all the way to the dam. Do not feel like you need to stay above the tunnel. The lower half of the river has impressive hatches and some great fish if you are willing to explore it.
If you are headed to the Owyhee, stop by The Rock Store in Nyssa. Show them your recent Idaho Angler receipt within 7 days and you will get a free beer or french fries. Pick up your Oregon fishing license there, grab snacks before you head into the canyon, or sit down for a burger and a cold one after a long day on the water.
Fly Selection:
#18-22 Split Case BWO, #16-18 Split Case PMD, #18-20 Juju Baetis, #18-20 Jig Angel Case PMD, San Juan Worms, #18-20 Tungsten Slim Shady, #16-20 Flashback Pheasant Tail, #20-22 Glass Bead Zebra Midge, #16-20 Rusty Spinner #14-16 DOB Caddis, #20-22 Hackle Stacker BWO, #18 CDC Thorax BWO, #18-20 Infrequent, #16-18 Extended Body PMD, #16 Short Wing Emerger PMD, #16-18 Hackle Stacker PMD, #10 More or Less Hopper, #8-10 Morrish Hopper
Silver Creek
The creek is warming up but there is still good fishing to be found. The Drakes have come and gone, PMDs and Callibaetis are tapering off, and tricos, midges, caddis, and terrestrials are running the show right now. Long leaders are a must on these technical fish. Make sure you grab a bottle of World Angler Floatant and World Angler Dry Shake before your next trip out there. Less application, longer float.
Fly Selection:
#12 Tim's Beetle, #14-16 CFO Mini Ant, #16-18 Griffith's Gnat, #20-22 Biot Comparadun Trico, #22 Angel Wing Trico, #20-22 Hackle Stacker Trico, #22-24 CDC Spinner Trico, #18-20 Last Chance Cripple BWO, #14-18 CDC HF Caddis Brown, #14-16 DOB Caddis Tan, #12 Sweetgrass Hopper Peach, #8-10 Morrish Hopper
South Fork Boise River
The South Fork has been fishing like it usually does during this time of year. Some days are lights out, other days you cannot buy a fish. A lot of that comes down to hatch timing. When fish load up on a dense hatch, they can go off the bite for the next 12 to 24 hours, so timing your float around the hatches matters, although it is hard to predict without being out there often. When you hit it right, be ready to throw big bugs on top. Chubby Chernobyls, Water Walkers, Dancin Rickys, and Cicadas have all been producing. If you are getting refusals, change up the color or size before you abandon the dry fly game, and always consider hanging a dropper below for fish that are keyed into emergers just under the surface. On tougher days where fish aren't looking up as frequent, nymphing or streamers can always find you a couple fish!
There are still a few Salmonflies fluttering around and fish will still look up for them, but if they are refusing, size down. Wading is still tough with water levels where they are. Expect that to change as we move toward the end of summer and into fall.
Boat nets are back in stock! Here are a couple great options from Fishpond and Rising.
Fly Selection:
#16-20 Flashback Pheasant Tail, #18 Olsen's Pheasant Tail, #18-20 Silver Duracell, #8-10 Knotty Hooker (Brown, Black, or Olive), #4 Godspeed Stone Brown, #16-18 Red Neck, #14-16 Yardley's Low Hole, #16-18 Rosa Red Tag Jig, #16-18 Rosa Orange, #18-20 Burkus Baetis Cripple, #16 Rusty Hackle Spinner, #18-20 Last Chance Cripple BWO, #18-20 Infrequent, #10-12 Royal Chubby Chernobyl, #8 Purple Chubby Chernobyl, #8-10 Fat Albert Tan, #10 Fat Head Cicada, #8 Elden's Red Ant, #10 Dancin Ricky Purple, #8 Water Walker Stone Black/Purple
Stillwater
Many of our local lakes and reservoirs are dealing with seasonal algae blooms right now thanks to the heat, which can make fishing them a grind. That said, do not let it keep you off the water. Idaho's mountains are full of alpine lakes and a good chunk of them have been stocked with trout. Fewer people, more willing fish, and some relief from the valley heat. If you have not fished an alpine lake yet this summer, it is worth the hike.
Fly Selection:
Leeches, Damsel Fly Nymphs, Woolly Buggers, Balanced Leeches (various colors), Chironomids, Popcorn Beetles, Sheep Creek Special, Caddis, Stimulators, Ants, Grasshoppers
