Wow! In my 35 years, I have not seen a weekend like the one we experienced over Aug. 25-26. I have often wondered when and if something like this would happen and now we all saw it first hand. Despite all the smoke and fire, fishing has remained very good. The biggest problem is getting out of the smoke and finding access. Everything upstream of Deer Creek is closed off to river access but the good news is that after 10:30 a.m., everything downstream of this point is smoke free and the fish in the upper river get a reprieve from getting hooked. You always have to look for the good in the bad. Let's take a peak at what we can expect.
SILVER CREEK—Not much change. You will a few Beatis spinners late morning and a Mason Quill Beatis Sinner #22 does the job. From noon on, the emergence of Callibeatis duns in the tubing section has been strong and a Thorax Speckled Dun and a Crippled Callibeatis #18 readily take fish. Other than fishing some Damsel Fly imitations, this is about the story that we will see and hear, for the next few weeks.
BIG WOOD RIVER—Our big problem is accessibility. But from Deer Creek down things are in great shape and it's fishing very well. Trico is seen about 11 a.m. Para Adams and a Parachute Hares Ear #18 work well. Although not a lot of the Red Quill have been seen, the fish are looking for something big in the afternoon. A Mason Red Quill #10-12, Crippled Red Quill #12 as well as a Parachute Hares Ear #12-14 move the better fish. A Red Quill Nymph is a good fly to carry.
BIG LOST—Water levels on the lower Big Lost have not changed much but the fishing has been quite good fishing big Prince Nymphs #10-12 and Flashback Pheasant Tails #12. Weight is needed to get the fly down. There is some surface activity but it isn't prevalent. Some very good reports have come in on both the lower North Fork and Copper Basin . Standard patterns are taking fish as well as Copper Johns #16.
TRAIL CREEK—Water is quite low but there seems to be a few fish in each run or pool of water. Parachute Adams #14-16 and a Bead Head Prince Nymph #16 are all you need to catch a few fish.
PENNY LAKE/LAKE CREEK/WARM SPRINGS—All access closed until further notice.
