Opening Day is Upon Us

The Wood River Valley boasts as good of year round fishing as just about anywhere you'll go.  Even during the coldest months of the year, the fishing can be fantastic here in town.  If there is one month where your options become a little limited and cabin fever starts to set in, that would be May.  However, come Saturday it's back on! This Saturday, the 25th, the Big Wood, Silver Creek, and the South Fork of the Boise open back up.  What's your best bet for opening day? Lets look at our options.

The Big Wood

The Big Wood is running at 816 CFS in Hailey, which is high.  The Wood is on the drop, but it probably won't fish well for another couple of weeks.  If you want to give it a try anyway, fish heavy stonefly nymphs, Green Drake nymphs, and streamers.  As long as the water isn't muddy, you should be able to pick up a fish here and there.  

Silver Creek

Silver Creek is a fantastic early season fishery.  These fish haven't seen flies in a few months, which will be apparent when they eat a fly on a presentation that will provoke laughter in August.  Opening day in the preserve is always a party, and the fishing can be really good.  If the weather holds up, look for PMDs mid morning.  If the bugs don't show up, try stripping wooly buggers and other streamers.  This can be very productive early season.  This time of year the point of rocks and willows accesses can fish well too, so if the preserve gets a little crowded do some exploring downstream.  

South Fork of the Boise

The South Fork is running at 1610 below Anderson Dam.  This is a great level to float, but wading can be a little tricky.  Fish large stonefly nymphs under an indicator for best results.  Salmon flies should be showing up in a few weeks so check under rocks for those huge bugs.  It's also worth throwing streamers at the bank while you float.  

BROWN DRAKE ALERT

With the mild spring we've had this year, it should be another early Drake year.  I guessed June, 2nd which means they'll probably go off sometime in July. Swing by the shop at we'll keep you updated on the progress of these big brown bugs. 

Fishing the Big Hole River

Last week a few of us loaded up two drift boats and headed over to Melrose, Montana for a couple days of floating and fishing. Our river of choice was Big Hole.  Low water conditions caused a little bit of rock bar bouncing, but there was enough water to get a couple of boats stuffed with guys, gear, and dogs down the river.

We did two floats: one from Melrose down and the other down to Melrose.  The fishing wasn't hot, but we consistently picked up fish on nymphs and streamers.      A few fish were fooled into eating Skwallas, but the majority of the action occurred subsurface.

The Big Hole is a beautiful river, and it has the feel of a fishery with huge numbers of fish.  Once the river comes up, the fish should start hanging out under the enticing cut banks a little more, and things should heat up.  While we weren't awed by the fishing on this trip, the potential of this river definitely warrants a trip back.