First Fishing report for 2015

January 19, 2015 Lost River Outfitters Fishing Report

Comfort has returned for the mid winter angler.  Around the holidays the mercury dropped to zero and below at night and barely 10 degrees in the daytime.  Result was shelf ice to begin, then anchor ice from below, then flowing slush, and finally even the fast flowing Big Wood River froze over in many places.  Except for the Nature Conservancy water, Silver Creek was a solid ribbon of ice. You could make it work if you found open water, but only to say you did, at 4 below zero.  Temperatures have moderated to just freezing night time and at or above freezing daytime.  Pleasant.  Although we have not experienced a huge storm yet this winter we are building precious water.  Snow water equivalent is around 103% as of today and precipitation to date is just under 100%.  That is for the Big Wood, Big Lost and Little Wood drainages.  The small storms are adding up.  We can hope for a big dump or just keep the small ones coming.  Statewide we are looking better than we have for a few years. Here is the first fish report of 2015.

Big Wood

Although the Big Wood water gauge in Hailey is still ice affected, I would venture to say that it is flowing below 150 cfs.  Water clarity is good.  There is some slick, sticky, mud from the flash floods of last August and September so take some care in wading.  Nymphing is still the best fish catching technique to be had on the Wood until the midges begin in earnest.  Big black or brindle girdle bugs, weighted, or a small weighted double nymph rig.  4X can be used with the size 10-12 stonefly imitations and 5X-6X with the baby nymphs.  Brassies, Anato mayfly nymphs, copper johns, zebras, two bit hookers, beaded pheasant tails are all good choices for the small flies.  Keep your indicator 8-9 feet from your bugs.  You get better depth and drift presentations that way.  There has been some spotty midge rising, but not enough to get me to change over yet.  It also appears we have a smaller population of catchable trout in the Wood this winter probably because of some attrition due to the dark water issues it has suffered the last two falls with thunderstorm floods on the fire ground.  There are still some nice fish to be had, but be very content with a dozen landings in an afternoon rather than the four dozen hookups you have had in past years.  Best time is still 11:00 to 4:00 pm.

Lower Big Wood below Magic

The lower Wood is flowing at 2.2 cfs, which is about normal for this time of year.  This water also froze solid during the cold weather over Christmas.  The fish in the canyon were stressed last summer due to low, warm water conditions. They are fine now with the oxygen levels higher now in the cold flows.  Although streamer fishing is effective for the larger rainbows and browns in that reach, I prefer hanging a scud imitation, midge imitation, or small weighted nymph under an indicator for more constant results.  The fish in the pools are constantly moving to forage and will find your hanging nymph.  Just try to figure out the proper depth and you will have good success.  On bright days I go deeper, on cloudy windy days shallower.  Generally the nymph should be 3-6 feet beneath your indicator.  You probably want to concentrate on the pools close to the dam.

Silver Creek

The Silver Creek water gauge is also ice affected.  Silver Creek was bank to bank ice over the holidays.  The channel should be open enough to cast streamers today.  Black Buggers and Philo Betto sculpin imitations are our favorites this time of year for both browns and rainbows.

Lower Lost

The Lower Lost is flowing at 88 cfs today, which is good winter flow.  It was down to 55 cfs after irrigation season.  It is too early for baetis to show, but midges should start to attract attention on most days.  Afternoon is usually prime time in the winter on the lower Lost.  Until you see some surface activity you can dredge the deeper pools using a small double nymph rig with one being a green, tan, or black zebra or use a size 10-12 golden stone or black stone imitation.  This set up is very similar to the Big Wood.  When there is surface activity a Wullf adams or purple haze in size 14 with a size 18-20 zebra dropper 10-18 inches down, fished into the heads of the pools in the riffle water can be effective if not deadly.  Presentation can be critical, be aware of drag.

South Fork Boise

The South Fork is flowing at about 305 today.  It is easy to cross and move around at this level.

Reports are that fishing is a bit spotty this winter, similar to the Big Wood.  There have been some large trout caught this winter, however.  Use girdle bugs in the rocky faster reaches drifting the seams and slower moving currents and fish small weighted midge imitations into the heads and riffles and you should have success.  Try to pick a sunny day the inversions have created some cold days in the canyon.

Steelhead

Our spring steelhead season is shaping up to be a good run this year.  Nearly 165,000 fish have crossed Lower Granite dam.  We had a very good fall trip to Riggins this year, hooking over 50 steelhead during the first week of November.   Most of the rivers in northern Idaho have risen this past week making fly rodding a challenge.  The Clearwater is flowing at 9-10,000 right now and is much better at 7,000 cfs.  The Snake is flowing at 27,700.  The Salmon at Riggins is 5,140.  The Little Salmon is at 345 cfs but is very nymphable at that level.  Just add a couple more splits to your Skykomish Sunrise or large Prince nymphs.  Pick a warm day and head to Challis or Salmon and you should be able to swing one up.  Sink tips will help get the fly closer to the fish in the cold water conditions.  We are now booking the Stanley Steelhead lodge for March and April.  Give us a call if you might want to bring a group or your fishing partner for a memorable adventure on the Salmon River surrounded by the spectacular Sawtooth Mountains.

Fish far and fine,

Scott Schnebly

Lost River Outfitters


News from the store:

  We have just received new merchandise from Patagonia, new Nano Air Hooded Jackets, jackets , and vests.....these new items are great for high aerobic output activities such as skate skiing, snow shoeing, back country skiing. The great new face fabric is breathable! Come check it out. Everyone who owns one of these great jackets loves them! For the non-aerobic portion of your adventure, all you have to add is a wind proof shell and you now have a toasty warm jacket. This is a new exciting layering piece.

Don't forget to book your steelhead fishing adventure at our Stanley Steelhead Lodge! Space is limited , so the time to boo this is now.

Our other fun adventure trip is a multi-day trip to Yellowstone Park. Lodging fills up fast, so plan theses trips now. We like to go to the West side of the park in June and go to the NE corner in September.

Also do not forget about back-packing/fishing trips to the Pioneer mountains. We bring back packing float tubes and can hire mules to pack in all of our gear. We can do ladies only trips or trips for families or children.

For winter excitement we offer winter guide trips with all gear and flies included in the price. If you like to combine a fishing day with a ski day, we'll gladly pick you up at the bottom of River Run.

Fall is for Steelhead

Come September, all of the Idaho steelhead junkies start checking Columbia river fish counts religiously. We start tying flies and gearing up for fall trips. Once October rolls around, the Clearwater and Salmon start filling up with anglers looking to "swing up" a summer run steelhead. While this year's steelhead counts are well below the 10 year average, Columbia and Snake river tributaries have fished better than they did last year.

The Clearwater fished very well (by Clearwater standards) in early October.  Some buddies and I spent three days swinging flies around Orfino, and we hooked (and even landed) a few fish.  The biggest surprise on that trip was the incredible number of Chinooks in the system. We saw Chinooks rolling through many of the runs we fished, and I even managed to land one on a floating line and a sparsely tied spey fly.

 

The Salmon River has fished very well this year downstream of Riggins.  The stretch that gave up very few fish last year showed some mercy in October with multiple hookups a day for some.  The fishing downstream of Riggins has slowed down, but there are still fish being caught.  With cold, November water temperatures, it's time to put on a sink tip and fish slightly larger flies.  

The fishing on the Salmon River around the town of Salmon has been very slow.  If things warm up, that area should get a good push of fish, and fishing should improve. Unfortunately the catch rates have been bad so far. 

Our fall steelhead season is far from over.  If you haven't tried swinging flies for steelhead, now is as good of a time as any to start. Just be careful; the tug is the drug!

-CM

Fishing Report....winter fishing in Idaho

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!