Friday, July 20, 2007

Fishing Report by Bill Mason


Although fishing has remained productive, there is no question that the intense heat we have been experiencing is having an effect on some of our river systems. As a result, the best fishing will be found at the extreme ends of the day, mornings and late afternoon into the evening. Unless you are willing to go underneath, midday is tough. Let's see what you can find.

Silver Creek — Pretty simple here. Trico followed by Beatis spinners in the morning and a few Callibeatis in the floating section in the afternoon. Daves Trico Spinner #22 and the HI-Viz Trico Spinner #22 works well for the little Black & Whites, a Mason Quill Beatis Spinner #22 readily takes fish when the Beatis spinners hit the water and both a Thorax Speckled Dun and Partridge Spinner #16-18 will do the job for Callibeatis. It is also the time Blue Damsels #8-12 can be very effective when nothing else is going on in the afternoon.

Big Wood -- Fishing nicely in the morning and evening but unless you want to fish nymphs in the afternoon, I suggest you go have a cold beer midday. Not much in the way of hatches but we are moving fish using Para Adams #18, Para Hares Ear #18, Para Caddis #16-18 and Partridge Caddis #16-18. Size 16 will take fish but size 18 are better. These patterns also apply to the evenings with more emphasis on the Caddis. Rusty Spinners #16 are also effective. Midday fishing with Copper Johns #16, Flashback Pheasant Tails #16 and small Prince Nymphs will take fish.

Big Lost -- Has come down a bit but at 450 cfs, it's still high enough to make for difficult wading. The 4th of July hatches should be gone therefore, most of the real productive fishing will be underneath using Regular and Bead Head Prince Nymphs #10-12, Copper Johns #12 and even some Woolly Buggers #8-10. You might also find success fishing Cranefly imitations on the surface as well. Copper Basin is producing some nice fishing for Brook Trout using Para Adams #14-16 and Yellow Stimulators #14.

Warm Springs/ Trail Creek -- The hot weather has also had an effect on these streams as well. Both are a little slow and what we are finding in terms of fish are running on the small side. Para Adams and Partridge Caddis are moving fish. Small Prince Nymphs #16 are taking the better sized fish but that is not saying much.

Penny Lake / Lake Creek -- Planted on a weekly basis, both are fishing well using bait and flies. Both are pretty exposed so morning and evenings are probably the best, especially if you are fishing with kids.




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