Early Season Silver Creek Report

Zac and I fished the creek yesterday, and it couldn't have felt better to be back on that piece of water.  Silver Creek is a place that puts me at peace every time I walk up and down it’s banks, and it doesn’t hurt when the fishing is good.  We got on the water just after 10:00, and the it wasn’t more than about an hour before the bugs showed up.  The hatch wasn’t thick, but there were enough PMDs to keep the fish looking up for a couple of hours.  While the numbers of bugs wasn't huge, the size was; most looked to be about a size 14.  It was t-shirt weather on the creek today, which makes you start thinking about Brown Drakes.  If this warm weather persists, it shouldn’t be too long before the big brown bugs start popping.  Until then, go have some fun with the PMDs.  It’s worth the trip. 

Baja Wrap Up: The Elusive Rooster

While many here in the Wood River Valley spent this last weekend chasing trout on opening day, Zac, Cody and I were knee-deep in the Sea of Cortez, casting ten-weights and working on good sunburns.  In all, we spent eight days fishing the East Cape of the Baja Peninsula.  Our goal was to catch Roosterfish off the beach.  This is a feat that is done successfully more often now than it was in the past, but it is still incredibly difficult.

I've been down to "The Baja" a number of times now, and it has been drastically different every time.  This trip was as unique as the rest and one of the most challenging to date.  Unlike many trips we've had in the past, the fish were in this time.  We had more shots at huge roosters (30-40 lb. fish) than I ever could have hoped for.  Unfortunately, very few of these fish were feeding or were very aggressive.  They were feeding almost exclusively on Mullet, and while these trout sized bait fish bring in the big roosters, they are also incredibly difficult to imitate.  Even our biggest, most ridiculous flies seemed to be about as big as the smallest Mullet in the school.

The first three days we walked one of our favorite stretches of beach and spotted Rooster after Rooster.  The wind was calm, which made casting and spotting easy.  However, cast after cast landed in front of cruising fish, without so much as an acknowledgment of our effort.  It wasn't until the second half of the trip, when conditions went south, that we finally found some interested fish.  As is so often the case, nuking wind pushed Mullet into the shallows and fish finally decided to feed.  On day four, I got my first classic Roosterfish follow.  The fish popped its fin and nipped at the tail of my fly for about 20 feet before peeling back into the deep water as fast as it had come.  This was a fish that I was sure I was going to catch, but unfortunately, when it comes to Roosters, those are the ones that almost never eat.

While that fish never found my fly, we were hopeful, and two days later we finally cashed in.  Cody, Zac and Abbey took an early walk on a nearby beach and found aggressive fish feeding in the shallows.  After a couple of good follows, Zac hooked up and caught a great fish.  This was the only big Rooster of the trip, but it made the trip.  We caught a number of other fish, including a big Jack Crevalle that I coaxed into eating a live mullet (it didn't take much convincing), but that Rooster will keep us talking until we can scrounge up enough cash to go catch a bigger one.

The fishery on the East Cape can be very challenging, but when it's good, it's great.  There are countless different species kicking around inshore and offshore, and half the time when you hear your reel screaming you have no idea what's on the other end.  When you include the beautifully rugged desert scenery and the incredibly friendly locals, it really doesn't get much better.  Here are a few pictures from the trip.

Back to Winter???

Good Morning, Everyone!
This year has been a year of incredible weather contrasts, and it looks like the trend is continuing at least tor now.
May has been warmer than normal with temps reaching the mid-eighties, and run-off beginning early. It looked like the Wood might have peaked around May 5th, and there was not a drop of moisture on the horizon. Great time to get the garden going and bob around on the reservoirs in a float tube. Even looking up at the Boulders and Pioneers it looked like fishing might happen early on our freestone rivers.
Well, as so often happens here in the Wood River Valley, the rain began the week before Opening Day, then it turned to snow, and it's been April-like weather for days now. Yesterday temps in Ketchum only reached the high 30's! This morning there is actually snow on the ground in Hailey! BRRRRRRR! The heater is running in my little greenhouse protecting all the starts for the garden, and I might just have to leave it on when I head up to the shop in an hour.
The Big Wood has actually dropped below normal for now, but that is only because of the low temperatures. It will come back up once this passes.
 
  Reports have been varied about fishing on the Wood. Anyone trying to fish the main river has found it flowing too fast, but those who found side channels and little calmer pockets found pods of fish trying to stay out of the fast current eager to eat big bead headed nymphs.
If you head out on the Wood, be careful! Wading is not recommended at this time. Find some calmer water or a place where the river is braided. Take out some big princes, girdle bugs, or other stone fly patterns. And if you need some advice, feel free to stop into the shop! We have you covered with rain coats in all price ranges, gloves, or anything else you might be missing!
No reports from Silver Creek so far, I had plans to head down there today, but the boys did not make back from Mexico yet, so I'm off to the shop.
I better get the dogs out before I go to work
Talk to you soon, and see you on the river!

Opening Day is upon us!

May 26, 2012

Opening day!  With so many year round waters available to us any more it is not as though we have been going through withdrawals if you have wanted to wet a line.  Some of our favorite streams are open today and fishable including Yellowstone Park waters.  Weather is usually an issue with us on the general opener and this one promises to be stormy and unsettled as well.  Our freestone rivers and tailwaters are generally too high and a bit dangerous to attempt.  Silver Creek and its tributaries will be our best opportunity locally. 

The Big Wood is flowing at over a grand and cold.  Eddy waters could be nymphed or streamer fished from the bank.  The lower Big Wood is also over 1,000 cfs and probably not safe for a float tube.  Boating ok, but it is big fast water right now.

The Big Lost is also like the Big Wood.  It is high and cold.  Trail Creek road is open.  If there is any fishing to be had it would be in the headwaters.  Below Mackay Reservoir is pushing a 1,000 and that is not very fishable either.

The Little Wood is very fishable.  It is low and clear in the desert.  There seems to be a lack of fish so far this year.  If you were to attempt a trip, fish the deep cliff pools with large attractor dry flies with a prince or girdle bug dropper.  Streamers are also a possibility.  It would not be my first choice of waters.

Silver Creek is just over 100 cfs  and clear with feeding fish.  Look for a PMD emergence mid day to early afternoon.  Midge fishing should also be good.  Callibaetis will probably be sparse with the cold rainy weather, but could happen.  Baetis emergences on cool overcast days are always a possibility.  Long fine leaders tapered to 6X will be your best possibility for success with the picky fish of the Creek.

Magic, Mormon, Anderson and all the local lakes are open and have been having their moments. 

If you are headed for Yellowstone Country it is a good time to stock up on PMD, and baetis imitations.  It is unlikely to see many caddis with the cool rainy weather yet.  Be prepared with some soft hackles and nymphs if you see no hatches on the Madison or the Firehole.  These waters will fish opening day unlike the last couple of years.

Our early season flies have arrived and are stocked at Lost River Outfitters.  We have a pattern for nearly every situation you might encounter.  Free advice, maps, and our friendly staff are ready to assist you.  Our guide staff has returned from spring steelhead in B.C. and rooster fishing in Mexico.  If you need some help on an early season trip give us a call and we will set you up with a guide.  Stop in to see what is new and to find your favorite supplies.   

Stillwater Report - Anderson Reservoir

We've been hitting the still-waters pretty hard lately, and I've come to a couple of conclusions: 1. It's fun and challenging to explore large bodies of water and look for features that might hold fish.  2. I need a motor for my drift-boat.  We hit Anderson Reservoir on Friday and Saturday, in hopes of finding some Smallmouth Bass.  Anderson is over 4,000 acres, and right now it is full of water.  Watching bass boats blow by you at about 50 miles per hour can be a little discouraging, but we gave it hell anyway.  We fished one cove hard on Friday and fished big weed beds on Saturday.  What did we find?  We found Bass, Trout, and what was almost a state record record Smallmouth.  I mean this thing was huge...but unfortunately it turned out to be a sucker fish.  All in all we had a great weather, good camping, and slow fishing...one more still-water down.  Anyone have a motor I can borrow?

Fish Watching at Silver Creek

Silver Creek is one of my favorite places on the planet.  Having a world class spring creek in our backyard is pretty special, and I try not to go too long without taking a drive to the preserve and doing some walking.  I made quick trip south this weekend and found a few fish that appeared to be feeding on Blue Wings.  Here are a few shots from the day.  You can join me in counting down the days until the opener.  There are Brown Drakes in our Future.

Stillwater Report-Carey Lake

In an area dominated by trout fishing, it's sometimes fun to go looking for other species.  Having grown up catching trout exclusively, I always get a kick out of finding a few bass, perch, or bluegill.  On Saturday, Scott Carper, Frank, and I took a drive to Carey to celebrate Carper's birthday and catch a few fish.  We rowed the numerous channels of the lake and caught decent numbers of all of the aforementioned species.  The key was the double black diamond cast: casting as close to the shore as possible without piling a pair of buggers in to the bank.  We stripped any number of buggers, and they seemed to like most of them as long as a proper double black diamond cast was executed.  We found more bass than expected and even tied in to a few that gave our five weights a solid pull before reaching the boat.  While most fish were fairly small, we found about a dozen perch and gills that were big enough to filet.  They found the frying pan and the inside of a tortilla. If you're looking for a few laughs and a bunch of fish give Carey lake a try.

Mexico Preppin'

As some of you might know Cody and I spent our Fall running the beaches of the East Cape of Baja, in search of Roosterfish, Dorado, and anything else that might eat a fly.  The Fall isn't the best time for Roosters down there.  With that in mind we decided to book a trip this Spring.  This time it will only be a week, but we have a great group making the trip.  One of the best things about getting ready for any fishing trip is getting on the vise and cranking out some flies.  Big roosters love mullet, so we've been focusing on the big stuff, but of course you have to be prepared for numerous other kinds of bait fish.  Zac, Cody, and I have been tying tons of flies, big and small, in preparation for the trip.  Here are a few of the finished bugs.  Dream about big salty fish and vicious takes!

Tough Fishing on Magic

This Spring my goal is to explore the many still-waters around the valley, and the most logical place to start was Magic.  Zac and I hit Magic pretty hard on Sunday, but it doesn't seem like it has turned on yet.  We started at Lava Point and trolled flies behind my drift boat for a a couple hours, without anything more than a few bumps.  After slow fishing at Lava Point, we pulled the boat and took a drive to Hot Springs Landing to give it another shot.  The water clarity was pretty low at Lava point, but we managed about one eat per pass.  Finally at the end of the day we picked up one fish, but not before Zac's nine foot eight weight became a seven and a half foot eight weight...oops.  Stay tuned for for some more reports from Magic and a number of different lakes and reservoirs around the area.