For the week of June 18 - 24, 2003

FISHING REPORT

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by Bill Mason

 

With each passing day, fishing conditions continue to improve.

We are not quite out of the woods in terms of high water, but we now have a few more options to fish water we didn’t have a week ago. The other good news is that it now appears that we are going to have a normal year in water levels which in turn means, we should have some very good fishing throughout the season. Let’s look at what presently taking place.

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• SILVER CREEK—Although it can be sporadic, the "Creek" is still fishing quite nicely. The Pale Morning Duns can be seen throughout the day and PMD Parachutes #16-18, PMD Cripples #16-18 and Flashback Pheasant Tails #14-16 will take fish.. Beatis is still out there so it’s not a bad idea to carry a few of our Quill Beatis Spinners #22 just in case. Callibeatis is still a main player as well and a Thorax Callibeatis Dun and a Crippled Callibeatis #16 as well as a Speckled Spinner #16 should work quite well.
  
  

• BIG WOOD RIVER—It is fishable but I still use that term carefully. The water is clear enough to fish but only in selected areas. Running at 1500 cfs, it’s still carrying a good deal of water making much of the river difficult to fish productively. Where the volume is slowed such as side channels Big nymphs such as Regular and Bead Head Prince Nymph #8-12, Green Drake Nymphs #10, and Golden Stone Nymph #8, seem to be working the best. Surface activity is still marginal. A word of advice is to be careful out there. The river can still knock you down.
  
  

• WARM SPRINGS—Clear and fishable and I’m told that the Fish and Game is going to plant it this week, so the fish could be good. Parachute Adams #14-16 Yellow Simulators #12-14 and Prince Nymphs should to the job.
  
  

• TRAIL CREEK—Still high and off color which is typical for this stream is always the last one to clear.
  
  

• BIG LOST—Water levels have actually dropped a bit from last week but at 800 cfs, it’s still too difficult to wade and get around. Probably not worth the effort.
  
  

• PENNY LAKE/LAKE CREEK—Will be planted and should fish well with both bait or flies.

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