Fishing Report
by Bill Mason
Generally speaking, fishing was very
good until the warm weather decided to bring down what remaining snow-pack was
left in the mountains. There can’t be much left. As a result, I’m guessing that
the fishing should be in decent shape by this weekend. Let’s have a look-see at
what one can expect for the week to come.
SILVER CREEK—The
fishing has been quite reasonable over the past week. Although hatches will
still remain inconsistent, it’s certainly worth your time to investigate. The
good news is that fishermen are finding good quantities of fish throughout the
system. The fish are not quite the Creek’s average size but that will come. At
least the fish are there. The main, daytime hatch is the Pale Morning Duns that
last for about 11/2 hours, midday. Parachute PMD’s #16-18 will take fish.
Otherwise, fishing Flashback Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ear’s and PMD Nymphs #14-16,
is probably your most productive method, especially if the wind blows. As
predicted, the Brown Drake showed itself late last week and not only was the
hatch good, there were ample fish to cast to. Since the hatch lasts only about
five to seven days, you should be able to catch the tail end of it through the
end of the week. Brown Drake Nymphs #10 should be fished, pre-hatch. Extended
body Brown Drake Duns and Cripples #10 work during the hatch and Brown Drake
Spinners, during the spinner fall, which are mixed in with the duns, can be
quite deadly.
BIG WOOD RIVER—The
Big Wood became high, off color and ugly over the weekend. It was running about
1070 cfs, and it made fishing very difficult in all places except north of
Ketchum. It’s anybody’s guess how long this will last, but if I were a betting
man, there can’t be a lot left in the mountains. So you’ll probably find
fishable water by the weekend. Although a few Green Drakes and Small Yellow
Stones were spotted in the Bellevue area, I suspect we are still a week to 10
days away from seeing these hatches in good, fishable numbers. Still, you might
want to be prepared. It’s not a bad idea to carry a few Mason Green Drake Duns,
Hairwing’s and Cripples #10-12 and Yellow Stimulato’#12-14 with you, just in
case. Other than that, standard nymphs such as Prince, Green Drake’s, and Golden
Stones, weighted, should be the order of the day. Be careful wading out there.
The water still has some oomph to it.
BIG LOST—The
water levels have remained quite constant, about 350 cfs. Fished it last
Tuesday/Wednesday and although there was a very sparse hatch of PMD’s from which
I took a few fish, the best results came by nymphing using Zebra Copper John’s
#12-14 and Prince Nymph’s #8-12. Since the reservoir is only half full, the
irrigators will probably conserve some water, resulting in little fluctuation in
water levels. But then again, you never know about those boys.
WARM SPRINGS/TRAIL CREEK—
Warm Springs is not bad but Trail
Creek is high and off color, causing most of the problems in the Wood. Standard
patterns such as a Bead Head Prince Nymph #12-14 and a Parachute Adams #14 are
taking quite a few small fish on Warm Springs
PENNY LAKE/LAKE CREEK—No
real report but there should be ample planted fish available using bait,
spinners and flies. A word for you adults—leave this for the kids, for there’s
not a lot available for them to fish. This should not be the place to supplement
your diet.