Lost River Outfitters Fishing Report Jan. 30, 2013
It’s coming! Although
we have had quite some cold temperatures
this December and January with both Silver Creek and the Big Wood freezing
over, our weather is beginning to moderate.
On our last chukar hunt in Oregon last weekend Zac and I experienced
slushy, melting snow and an abundance of robins. Days are growing longer, the sun is higher
and warmer, and this week’s daytime temperatures are forecast to be at or above
freezing every day. The pesky guide ice
should be almost non-existent in the afternoon.
Our winter fishing opportunities are not as diverse as they
are in the summer months, but are generally more productive than any other time
of year. Trout are concentrated in the
deep slow water lies right now and the only real challenge will be fly choice
and presentation. Fishing upstream on
the Big Wood into the slow deep bucket water with a stonefly nymph size 8 or 10
tied with 4X fluorocarbon tippet six or eight feet from an indicator will work
wonders. Two smaller weighted nymphs a
brassie, or copper john, with a zebra midge trailer on 5X and 6X fluorocarbon
about 9 feet from your indicator is the choice if the fish are picky to the big
nymph. Look for rising fish in the
softest water in the pool if midges begin to hatch. An indicator parachute adams with a zebra
midge, dry midge or midge emerger is the go to set up in that case. If you find one trout in the winter, you have
usually discovered the mother lode.
Silver Creek is open until the end of February. Although you can experience some midge
hatches, streamer fishing is the most effective way to find fish at this time
of year. It was frozen last week in the
morning, but it should have quite a bit
of open water this week. Black leeches
and our own Philo Betto Sculpin are very effective flies fished on a floating
line.
Pick a warm day and head to our favorite stretch of water,
the lower Lost River. Winter is the best
on that tailwater stream. Winter flows
are just over 100 cfs. The water temperatures
are fairly stable, and midge hatches mixed with the big size 17 baetis can
happen on any day starting in the early afternoons. Make sure to carry some 16-18 pheasant tail
nymphs and zebra midges and look to the heads of the pools if you see any hatching
occurring. In some of the deeper rocky
pools a stonefly nymph is also a producer.
This is our most consistent dry fly water with both baetis and midges in
the late winter months. It generally
peaks in March.
For steelhead this time of year the Clearwater or the Little
Salmon are really the only two choices with a fly until it warms a bit
more. Check water levels before
departure however. They can both blow
out.
Zac recommends ice fishing at Magic with any color jig
tipped with a night crawler for perch or rainbows. The canyon below Magic is close if you want
to hone your skills on a still water fishery with small nymphs under an
indicator. Carey Lake can also be fun
for a few bass and many bluegill with your beginning fly fishing partner. A prince nymph size 12 about 18 inches under
an indicator works wonders.
Bird season is nearly gone.
Set up the vices, tie some bugs, and then pick a warm day on the
water. It only gets better from here
on. If you need help finding or tying a
pattern, are planning a trip to the flats, need help matching a spey line to a
rod, need a double haul or spey casting lesson, interested in a Yellowstone
trip next June or September, want to book a steelhead trip for your group at
our lodge in Stanley this spring then stop by the shop. We can help with all of your fishing needs.
Tidy loops and tight lines,
Scott Schnebly
Lost River Outfitters
208-726-1706
PS from Susanne: If you don't insist on going out with Scott, we have a special on local winter guide trips: On Mondays and Tuesdays we are giving a $25 discount off our already low winter rate! Help out a starving fishing guide, invite a friend and head out on the Wood with Zac, Frank, Cody, or Chase! Maybe you'll even catch me looking up from the computer while writing orders and convince me to go out there and give you some pointers!
Give us a call at the number above or e-mail me: susanne@lostriveroutfitters.com to get this great deal!
Here are some pictures from our trip to BC in November just to make you jealous.
Take care and see you on the river!
