Fishing Report
by Bill Mason
In general, fishing has been very good
depending upon where you are actually fishing. Because of high water, not every
stream is productive and only selected runs of water are yielding fish. But
where the water has slowed, fishing is great. In addition, now that the "people
hatch" from the Fourth of July has left, fishing could get even better. Let’s
see:
SILVER CREEK—
Not great but not bad either. Hurting
the "Creek" is the miserable wind that blows what hatch there is, off the water.
The Pale Morning Duns and Callibeatis are still present and will be predominate
until Trico shows up in about a week. PMD Parachutes #18 and Thorax Callibeatis
#16 should cover both hatches when and if they appear. Speckled Spinners #16
should also be carried and fished in the ponds and sloughs. Flashback Pheasant
Tails and Callibeatis Nymphs #14-16 are also effective.
BIG WOOD RIVER—
Depending on where you fish,
production has been very good. The Big Wood is still carrying a lot of water, so
it’s only in selected runs that fish are found. The Green Drake is beginning to
slip away but you might find a few bugs still hatching north of Ketchum. Also
seen is the Western Quill, Small Yellow Stones and perhaps most importantly,
Caddis in the evenings. Para Adams, Parachute Hares Ear, Yellow Para Adams and
Yellow Simulators #12-14, will all move fish. A Partridge Caddis #14-16 works
nicely in the evening.
COPPER BASIN—
Reports have been spotty. What we have heard is that the fish are not terribly
abundant. Hopefully, this will improve as the water levels drop and more
Cutthroat trout are added to the stream.
BIG LOST—
Still high and difficult to wade
and cross but is fishing well because of two hatches seen at this time of year.
The small Yellow Stones and the PMD’s—the Losts’ two significant hatches—are out
and the fish are on them. Yellow Stimulators #12 and Yellow Para Adams #14-16
will do the job. Large Prince Nymphs #8-10 are also a good bet as well.
WARM SPRINGS/TRAIL CREEK—
With the Wood fishing as well as it has, these two pieces of water have not been
fished much. Both have been planted but Trail Creek is still carrying some water
volume thus, the fish are pretty much spread out. Para Adams #14, Prince Nymphs
#12-14 and Elk Hair Caddis #14 should take fish.
PENNY LAKE/LAKE CREEK—
Heavily planted for the Fourth, should
still fish well for the bait and especially the fly fishermen. Para Adams #14-16
worked very well over the weekend.