Fishing report 1/21/2014

Fishing report Jan. 22, 2014

To say our fishing has been and will be weather affected is an understatement this past year.  If the weather pattern doesn’t change it will carry into our summer and possibly future years.  A two thousand mile long, four mile high, high pressure system has been sitting off the Pacific coast for a year now.  If you recall, the last real wet westerly system we had in Idaho was in December of 2013.  Since then our storms have come from the north.  Typically they go east of Central Idaho and are fairly dry by the time they reach us.  The airflows over the summer came as monsoons from the south and with the thunderstorms creating lightning and our huge fire season.  September gave us big rain from the monsoonal flows, which, on top of bare burned ground, created mud flows into many of our watersheds.  Some of our rivers flowed black to dark brown for weeks.  The South Fork of the Boise was closed, the Big Wood unfishable, and the doomsday predictors said everything in the rivers died.  All the bugs and fish were gone.  Recovery would take years.  Happy to report that is not the case.  Long term the carbon in the streams will be good.  We should have more plant growth, more food for the insects, and therefore better growth for the fish.  The Yellowstone fires in the 1980’s were a good example of that very thing.

In the mean time we are only about 50% precipitation of average in Idaho.  We need water for our fish and crops, and winter sports.  Hopefully the weather pattern will change.  We are not the only western state affected.  Here is our mid winter fishing report.

Big Wood River

The September floods did result in some dead fish.  It seems whitefish were found dead as well as some trout.  We could have lost some young of the year fingerlings as well, which will show up in a couple of years.  This winter guide season has been productive however. Some afternoon days producing 20-40 fish for those who don’t mind nymphing.  There has been some rising to midges in soft water, with hatches heavy enough for the trout to be selective in some instances. Midge hatches should increase in February. A few of the rainbows are thin, no doubt due to the stress of the flood and dark water, but many are fat and healthy.  Due to low snowpack the river is easily accessible and many days on the water have been above 32 degrees, so iced guides not much of a problem.  Below Magic Reservoir fish have survived near the dam.  They are thin due to the stress of having spent the latter part of the summer in warm water and probably competing for food.  Those fish are the seed to repopulate the system when water flows return to a more normal state.  Please treat them gently and release.

Silver Creek

If you are in the area you should stop by Kilpatrick Bridge to see the progress of the Silver Creek project.  We should see the waters below the pond improve in water quality and fish populations as a result.  It is pretty an amazing change already.  Although the water gauge says frozen, the creek is not.  The best approach is streamer fishing this time of year.  Try a black leech or bugger or a Philo Betto to entice the larger browns and rainbows this time of year.  Floating lines are fine.  We should see some midge hatches in February, with occasional rising.

The Lower Big Lost

The Lower Lost is flowing at 75 cfs today.  It was too low when it was first shut off flowing in the high 50’s.  The pools were ponds and all of the fish that would take were stuffed into the riffle water at the heads of the pools.  Nymphing the moving water is the most productive this time of year.  Pheasant tails, zebra midges in the riffle waters with 5 and 6X fluorocarbon is a good choice.  In the faster rocky runs a stonefly nymph is always a good choice.  Look for the midge hatches to improve as the winter goes on and we can always count on the March baetis for a good dry fly fix.

South Fork of the Boise

 This is a different river after the floods.  If you get a chance, it is worth a drive into the canyon.  Boulders the size of trailer houses came down the mountain and changed the river.  I had a chance to fish it a few weeks ago and although it suffered the same fate as the Big Wood, there were some very healthy and large trout, and even a number of whitefish to the nymph.  There is some rising to midges and look for the tiny baetis to bring fish to the surface in the very soft pools.    

Steelhead

Although our steelhead run is not big this year, it is better than twenty years ago.  Somewhat less than 110,000 fish have reached Idaho so far.  Reports are that the Snake and the Clearwater are giving up some winter fish to some hardy spey casters.  We are booking the Stanley Steelhead Lodge now, and have taken a number of early dates in late March and April.  If you have specific dates or requested guides it would be a good time to call the shop and get on the book.  208-726-1706

Lost River Events

Fly tying classes

Fly tying classes begin in February.  There is a sign-up sheet on the counter.  Cost is $20/class.  Materials provided.  Beginner to steelhead intruder classes offered.

Fly fishing film Waypoints

Benefit for the Nature Conservancy’s restoration project. Fly fishing film, Waypoints, will be presented by Lost River Outfitters and Waterworks-Lamson at the Next Stage Theatre on Jan. 24^th at 6:30 pm.   Raffle prizes include Smith sunglasses, a Waterworks reel, Ex-Officio shirt, men’s and women’s Scottevests, men’s and women’s wool base layer from First Light, a gift certificate from Enoteca, among others.   Raffle tickets are $5.00.   

A beer and wine reception begins at 6:30.  Tickets are $10, or six for $50 and are available at Lost River Outfitters.

Yellowstone Park Fishing Adventures

Yellowstone Park Fishing Adventures

We are booking our June and September Yellowstone trips now. Some dates are taken.  If you have not fished Yellowstone Park it you owe it to yourself. It is our domestic “international” fishing adventure, and is much more than just a fishing trip.  We make lodging arrangements and can help with your airline connections. If you are interested send me an email at scott@lostriveroutfitters.com and we will get you a photo album, details, costs and answer your questions.

Fish far and fine,

Scott Schnebly   

News from the store:

The new Patagonia Women’s fishing line is in!

Patagonia is introducing a new W’s wader, fishing jacket, and other W’s specific clothing items and we have the waders and jackets in stock!

The drop seat wader has many great features! One of the greatest innovations is the drop seat, making it possible to attend to Nature’s call in relative privacy and without removing your jacket! Come on in and check them out!

I will post more about these waders on our next blog! And, we’ll have another ladies night soon!

We also have the new Winston Boron III LS in stock now! Not only does this rod cast like a dream, it is also the sexiest rod Winston has come out with!

Stop in and cast this great new stick! We’ll gladly take you outside and let you try it! It’s always fun to cast a new rod, and the boys and gals in our shop would love to go out into the sunshine and let you play around a bit!

I am at the OR Show in Salt Lake right now and will report back next week.

Remember, if we don’t have what you’d like, we’ll gladly order it for you!

Susanne   Susanne@lostriveroutfitters.com

 w's wader video

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!

April Vokey's visit to Sun Valley, courtesy of ISSU

Wow, what an amazing week this has been! No, I don't mean giant browns on dries or anything remotely like it, but some great folks doing awesome things!
It all started with my departure to Ashton to meet with the powers-that-be of the Patagonia fishing line, including Yvon Chouinard, some buyers and guides from other shops, and April Vokey who is one of their fly fishing ambassadors. April has become a household name when mentioning women in fly-fishing, but she has also amassed some fame without taking her gender into account.
I was a bit apprehensive about meeting April, chances were that her fame had gone to her head or that she had developed what is so common in male guides, a guide ego. But my apprehension was quelled the moment I met her! Here was a gal with a big sincere smile, polite, yet self-assured, happy to meet other women in her profession! Good thing, because that night we became room-mates for one night!
To be involved in bringing back the Patagonia Women's fishing line, discussing the pros and cons of this or that feature, sitting there with Yvon Chouinard, April Vokey , all the other Patagonia folks and some other gals who are living their dream was a fabulous experience! It is so nice to be invited into the Patagonia family, to hear Yvon's passion for this planet, to hang out over coffee before our meeting and 'solve all the problems of the world' ! On top of this company's commitment to the environment, the folks who work for them, the quality of their merchandise, the rigorous research and testing of their products, we, the lowly dealers, are welcome to be part of it all. No other company we deal with can boast that kind of involvement! I am proud and happy to be in this position!
Well, April did not come to just participate in this meeting. Her next stop was Ketchum, Idaho to be the featured guest in a benefit for the ISSU, a non-profit organization supporting wild steelhead and salmon, something about which April is so very passionate.There were dinners and meet and greets, a fabulous presentation by April about swinging flies in BC, which is what her passion is and how she makes her living as a guide. Scott and I also had the pleasure of spending part of the day with April at Silver Creek. But the reason she came her was not to socialize but to teach classes, which is another integral part of her profession. She taught 3 full day casting lessons and 2 intruder fly-tying classes. I had the opportunity to sit in on 1 of each.
April has a great teaching style. She is very organized in her approach, thorough in her explanations, kind in her criticism and genuinely interested in her students' improvement. She pretends to be strict, but if she is, you don't notice. Patience and enthusiasm are her fortes. Both of those classes were quite enjoyable and everyone walked away believing they had learned a new skill or honed a skill they already possessed.
In a nutshell, the days and evenings April spent with us were a blast!
 April reminds me of myself at her age. Don't get me wrong, I'm not claiming to be accomplished like her, I have long since missed the boat on that. I was on a different path back then, busy raising a child as a single Mom. Also I had chosen the flying profession, giving glider rides with weather as my biggest enemy and inevitable stumbling block. No, what I mean is that we both had the courage to walk into professions so utterly dominated by men, and to give those boys a run for their money. This is not an easy path! You have to be better than they are if you want to get respect! I can still hear the hesitation in my passengers' voices when they found out that I , the woman, would be taking them flying. I still get the: 'I don't want to go fishing with a woman' line when I'm guiding.
April has made sure that everyone knows that she can hang with the boys! She does not cut any corners to prove this fact. She took her casting certification from the toughest source in the industry just to prove a point. Watch out, fellow male guides, this gal can and will give show you off! The great thing is that she is not pushy about it. She is totally professional and humble, you'd never know that she is so accomplished and has become quite famous. Keep it up, April! Looks like you are on your way to become the next Joan Wulff!
So, if you would ever like to go steelhead or salmon fishing in BC, if you are looking for a hosted trip just about anywhere in the world, if you would like to book a fishing or casting school at your fly-shop, or if a fly-tying school strikes your fancy, consider booking April Vokey! I'm sure you won't regret it!
Flygal Ventures
Well, on top of all the fun, April helped raise money for an organization devoted to our endangered wild Salmon and Steelhead runs. Thank you so much, April!
I did not take any pictures of April to respect her privacy, so no pictures on this blog. Thanks for coming to Ketchum, April, hope to see you again some day, I think you have inspired me to host some trips and go see more of the world myself!
Have a great day and see you on the River

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!

April Vokey and Dr. Rick Williams Coming to Ketchum June 8th-11th

If you haven't heard of April Vokey, simply google her name and see what comes up.  You'll probably see pictures of giant steelhead, videos of perfect spey-casting, and expertly tied intruders.

April is a well known B.C. guide, casting intsructor, fly tyer, and wild fish conservationist.  On June 8th, she and Rick Williams will be joining us for a few days of fun.  Rick is also a certified single and two handed casting instructor, as well as a wild fish conservationist.  He co-owns Idaho Angler, located in Boise, and is an acclaimed author.  The two of them will be leading a number of activities over the course of four days.  There are lots of spots open for most of the clinics, so take a look at the schedule and let us know if you're interested.

Friday evening, June 8th, 6:30-8:30 PM, Meet and Greet

This will be held at Silver Creek Outfitters.  This is a good opportunity to get to know April a little bit and listen to her talk about conservation efforts in British Columbia.  We will raffle off a complete spey setup and a guided trip for two on the Clearwater River.  

Saturday, June 9th, Casting Clinics and Intruder Fly Tying Class

Saturday consists of a co-ed casting clinic with April from 9:00 am-3:00 pm, a co-ed, two handed casting clinic with Rick from 9:00 am-3:00 pm, and an intruder fly tying class with April from 5:00-9:00 pm.  The casting clinics cost $200 each, and that includes lunch.  The single handed clinics will all held on dry land (location TBA).  The two handed clinics will be held on dry land and on Hulen Meadows pond (half of each clinic on each).  The fly tying class will be $100 each, and it will be held at Lost River Outfitters.  Snacks and beverages will be provided for that class.  

Sunday, June 10th, Casting Clinics and Children's Fly Tying Class

On Sunday, Rick will host another Spey casting clinic from 9:00 am-3:00 pm.  April will lead a women's only single handed casting clinic from 9:00 am-3:00 pm, but this class is currently full.  If you are interested in participating in a women's only class with April, let us know, and she might have availability for another clinic on Monday.  Also on Sunday, April will host a Children's fly tying class from 5:00-9:00 pm.  This will be held at Ketchum On The Fly and the cost will be $100.  

Monday, June 11th Casting Clinic and Beginners Fly Tying Class

Monday will start at 9:00 am with a co-ed single handed casting clinic, hosted by April.  This will last until 3:00 pm.  At 5:00 pm, she will lead a "learn to tie" fly tying class, and that will last until 9:00 pm.  The casting clinic will cost $200 and the fly tying class $100.  

We have openings for almost all of the clinics, but space is limited.  This is a great opportunity to learn from some of the best in the industry.  Call us or swing by the shop to sign up for any of the classes.   

Fly Tying Classes Coming Soon!

LRO will be offering fly tying classes in the upcoming weeks.  We'll show you how to tie steelhead flies, trout flies, saltwater flies and everything in between.  We need people to sign up before we can offer the classes, so if you're interested, send me your contact info at chase@lostriveroutfitters.com or call the shop at 726-1706.  I'll shoot you an email or give you a call to check on availability.  If nothing else this will be a great opportunity to drink a few beers and talk fishing with a few like-minded fanatics.  Shoot me an email and we can get things going!