Fishing Report Aug 27,2013

Fishing report Aug. 26, 2013 

As probably all of you know we became the #1 priority in the nation with our Beaver Creek fire in mid August.  It was a déjà vu of the Castle Rock fire of 2007.  Smoke, evacuations, and fire conditions pretty much shut down the entire valley for a week.  The firefighters again did an amazing job with a virtual inferno over very dry forest, sage and tinder.  The fire is about 90% contained and not visible from the valley, except for the burn scars.  The valley corridor from East Fork north looks the same. The monsoonal air flows have also been a blessing clearing the air and giving us much needed rains over the last three days, with more rains predicted for the week.

 Even during the fire there was some great and smokeless fishing to be had if you were willing to cross Trail Creek summit and venture into the Big Lost River.  Many days on Silver Creek were clear in the afternoons when the southerly winds kicked the smoke out.  The fish have had a nice break as angling pressure was nearly non-existent. We stayed open, with more limited hours, all through the fire and swa quite a few local anglers who took advantage of the un-crowded fishing conditions.

Now that the fire Is behind us, we hope that our clients will return to the valley to enjoy our favorite fishing season, fall!  Cooler temperatures are here and fall fishing should begin to pick up soon.  Here is what you should expect if you venture into the valley in the next week or so.

           Big Wood

Very low water conditions with flows less than 130 cfs.  We fished 14 foot leaders tapered to 6X yesterday and a size 18 and 20 adams to raise fish.  There was a spotty trico spinner fall, some nice fish would rise to the dry fly.  When rises slowed a size 20 zebra midge under a size 16 attractor purple haze received attention. Don’t forget to throw a hopper into the faster water! The fish are definitely looking up for this big bug and it’s always fun to catch fish on hoppers! Expect  to see some larger fish begin to    show as size 10 hecubas begin to hatch and baetis on cloudy afternoons in early September.  

thank you, firefighters!fire video 

           Silver Creek

Flows and temperatures  are pretty normal on the Creek.  Although trico hatches have been       sporadic, you should look for some surface action on trico and baetis in the late morning if you visit the creek.  Also some callibaetis size 18 are still around.  Dry blue damsels and hoppers will get some attention in the afternoons.  

            Big Lost/Copper Basin

 Unfortunately we have seen evidence of a lot of harvest on these waters again this summer.  There are a few pockets of fish left in the upper river, but they are far and few between.  There are plentiful whitefish as they are protected, but many of the nice cutthroat and rainbow that we saw early season have been taken out.  A madam X size 10 with a dropper nymph size 16 on about two feet of 5X fluorocarbon tippet will fool some of those fish that are still there.   We did catch 4 grayling of spawning size in the upper reaches of the Lost in early August on a guide trip.  Please release the trout, although there is no protection on the trout and the Idaho Fish and Game department still believes there would be no trout in the system if not for their planting efforts. There is plenty of natural spawning in that system to replenish it with wild fine spot cutthroat, west slope cutthroat, rainbow, and cut bows.  It is one of the most pristine systems we have that is easily accessible and needs our protection.

             Lower Big Lost

              The lower river below Mackay reservoir is fishing well with nymphs.  Midge hatches have been strong so bring your size 18 and 20 zebra midge box and there also have been tricos early in the morning. Double nymph rigs produce the best in this system right now.  Tippets with this rigging should include 6X fluorocarbon.  By late September we should start to see some fall baetis and the return of surface feeding. 

  

              Yellowstone Park

               If you are interested in a trip to the Lamar Valley and some amazing fall fishing we can hook you up.  I leave on Sept. 9^th and return on Sept. 21^st.    We could still organize your fall trout trip.  You will fish the Yellowstone River, the Lamar River, Slough Creek, Soda Butte Creek and Trout Lake on your trip.  Minimum trip is three days.  We will organize your lodging.  Call Scott at 208-720-3813 or Susanne at 208-720-1994 or send us an email for further details.

             High Mountain Lake Fishing and Backpacking

              Fall is the time to head out into the mountains! With the summer crowds diminishing, you can have some of the high mountain lakes all to yourself! Check out our Outcast Trinity backpacking float tubes! They only weigh 7 lbs, pump up in less than 10 minutes , and come in a nice pack that has enough room for food, clothing, and even waders! We are licensed to guide hiking and back-backing trips to the lakes in the headwaters of the Big Lost. This is one of the most fabulous experiences! The fish are ready to beef up for the winter and will eat just about anything you throw at them. We can also arrange to have the whole camp packed in, so all you have to carry is a day pack. This also makes it possible to have ‘real’ food and even a libation under the stars! Give Susanne a call on her cell 108.720.1994. She likes nothing better than spending a couple of nights under the stars!

            Steelhead

Fall steelhead season is approaching.  The numbers are not huge, but they are coming into Idaho over Lower Granite Dam right now.  Stop in the shop for a spey lesson or to check out the Air flow rage lines which will make your spey casting easier than you can ever imagine.

             Synopsis

              We have dodged the fire bullet once again thanks to another great incident commander, Beth Lund, and her awesome Incident 1 Team!  We also need to give a great round of applause to all the fire departments who sent fire engines for structure protection! We had fire trucks form all over Idaho and all over the country! We can’t thank all of the fire personnel enough for saving our towns, our valley, and the busiest weekend of the whole year: Wagon Days! Come help us celebrate the end of the Beaver Creek Fire and the beginning of a great fall fishing season!

               We have some great deals on clothing and hard goods! Don’t miss out on our awesome end of summer sale! All summer clothing and footwear is 30-50% off! Only on Saturday, Parade Day, we will discount ALL non-sale clothing items by 10%! We will also serve snacks and libations from 11:00AM to 3:00PM! Come join us for a fun-filled day of retail therapy! Our sale has already started, so if you are in town, check it out now before the crowds return!  

             Here are a couple of reminders of the Beaver Creek Fire......                                                             

          Fish far and fine,

          Scott Schnebly

           Lost River Outfitters 

Fishing report March15,2013

Fish report March 15, 2013

It is a pretty magical time of year to go to our rivers, pre run-off.    There is a lot going on.  Where does one go on which day?  The weather is making that decision difficult.   The day time temperatures are almost too nice, and we could certainly use more precipitation.  In the meantime go with the hand you are dealt.  There are many choices.

The Lower Big Lost is our favorite trout stream this time of year.  It is a very manageable 110 cfs.  Slow enough for trout to rise to the big blue wings and the large midges that hatch in March.  Some days the hatch will be heavier than others, but there will always be some trout looking to the surface or the film fly.  If no rising is evident a double zebra outfit down and dirty with 5 ½ or 6X fluro will seal the deal.  If there is surface activity I like a small gulper special, parachute adams, or high vis baetis with a size 16 or 18 pheasant tail or even a midge emerger trailer on light tippets.  Even though they can get picky at times, it is some of the best trout fishing of the year.  Some fish are spawning.  Let them do it.

The Big Wood at Hailey is flowing about 20 cfs above normal with the warm temperatures.  Not much has changed all winter here.  Zebra midges off a brassy or copper john, a girdle bug naked, a small dry with a zebra trailer to the rising fish should match the hatch on most occasions.  Below Magic is pretty accessible with the roads drying.  It is being fished pretty hard, but works with streamers or small nymphs.  Keep abreast of the Wood River Land Trust’s efforts to add water to that system. They can use your support.  It would be a real boon to the fishery, the economy, and the health of the stream to have 25 cfs in the streambed instead of 5 cfs at this time of year.

Silver Creek is closed.

The Salmon River is flowing at 425 cfs at Yankee Fork today.  It is a bit above normal flows.  The river is clear and fish are beginning to show in the upper river above the East Fork.  Most steelhead are still down around North Fork, but the warm weather should move them upstream.  We still have some openings at the lodge.  Many nights are full. Call the shop, 208-726-1706, for openings if you want a full service steelhead excursion.  We will treat you with three great meals, a full day on the Salmon River, and a hot tub before dinner.   The Idaho Rivers United breakfast was Wednesday morning.  It played to a full house once again.  We very much support their efforts to return wild salmon and steelhead to their natal Idaho waters.

There is enough to keep any angler busy right now, enjoy.

Tight loops and lines,

Scott Schnebly

Lost River Outfitters

 

Fishing report Feb 18,2013

Feb. 18, 2013 Fishing report

Let me diverge a bit first.  In the mid 1980’s a long time client stopped by the shop and told me he had some dates that he would like to book for the summer, but he had left them at his office.  When he returned to California he would fax them to me to see if they would work.  “Fax?”  I must have sounded really stupid.  “You don’t have a fax, he asked?   Come on, join the twentieth century.  O.K. I will call you with them.”  One fax machine was purchased rapidly.

In the mid 1990’s I got a computer to help with our bookkeeping.  Someone hooked up a modem, put me on the internet and gave me an email address.  It was late winter.  A few days later I received an email.  I managed to find the open window and a message appeared.  It was terse and to the point.  “I am looking for three guides for July 14, 15, and 16 for three couples while we visit Sun Valley.  Can you accommodate?”   With typing being one of my more stellar achievements in seventh grade, I penned an “absolutely can” answer under the reply window. I hit send, and it went away to somewhere, supposedly to a gentleman in North Carolina.  Sure it did.  Lo and behold a three word answer returned.  “See you then.”  Please understand me that almost all of our other bookings for someone wanting a guide were followed by one to six phone calls confirming such, and then asking what rods to bring, what flies to bring or tie, what hatches to expect, what the water conditions would be like, which rivers would they fish, did we have private water, beginner water, expert water, what clothes to wear, what waders to bring hip or chest, float or wade.  Not this time.  The three couples showed up at the shop the evening of July 13 and asked for their marching orders for the next day.  At the time I was worrying about how to pay the guides for a no show.  Worries abated and I became a believer in cyber space, resulting in a better, faster computer.

I am still somewhat of a skeptic.  In the last few years Facebook, blogging, and twittering have arrived.  It all sounded like something you would like to avoid in grade school.  Instead of trying to write a weekly fish report, just blog about your recent trip to the river or field was the latest advice.  I have been trying.  I don’t have Facebook, or blogging, or twittering accounts, I jot something down and forward it to my computer wizard and I guess it goes somewhere.    Susanne said she got 100 times more hits for paying $5.00 to Facebook about our Valentine’s Day sale at our shop in Ketchum.   “Big deal”, I said, “what good is that if someone in Florida reads it and isn’t in Sun Valley, Idaho.”  Answer: ’Well, they could very well visit some day and remember us.’  Lo and behold, again.  A couple from New York city googled Fly Fishing in Sun Valley.  They had Found Lost River Outfitters and read a “blog” I noted about a couple from Brazil that I fished with the previous week. They called the office on Wednesday, booked a trip with Lost River for Friday and, althoughthey were dropped off at the wrong shop by their host, managed to find us, were fitted with waders, taught the basics of winter fly fishing. They hooked over sixty trout, and finished the day with a beautiful 21 inch buck fish.  I have a fax machine, my computer is plenty fast these days, I guess I eat crow.  I am glad the fish aren’t changing as fast as our marketing plan.

Our weather is making for some really nice conditions on the rivers.

 Silver Creek is low and clear flowing at 70+ cfs.  Be stealthy and cast medium sized streamers.  Philo Betto is my favorite.

 The Big Wood is flowing about normal.  Midges are showing with some rising trout for those of you who like casting micro dries to targets.   A 12 or 14  brassie with a zebra midge trailer on fine fluorocarbon tippet is a good choice for numbers of fish.  You might even get a trophy whitey. 

The Lower Big Lost will fish much like the upper Big Wood, but the fish are generally larger and more lively as the tail waters don’t experience nearly the temperature fluctuations that the upper Wood does. 

The Salmon will give up a steelhead to a swung fly if you are up for the drive to Challis. 

Tight loops and lines, 

Scott Schnebly/Lost River Outfitters

Fishing report Feb 5,2013

Welcome to April in February.  Not a great deal has changed since last week’s report, except that it has been warmer and the days are brighter.  Our weather this week calls for a bit cooler temperatures with a chance of snow, still very tolerable fishing conditions with highs in the upper 20’s to near freezing.  Our guide trips the last couple of days have had good success nymphing with little ice in both the river and rod guides.

The upper Big Wood is fishing very well with nymphs.  The trout are much growing more active as water temperatures have risen from the January cold spell.  Sporadic midge hatches are showing depending on where you are on the river.   Be prepared to fish the micro stuff, but don’t count on it.  A naked stonefly nymph or girdle bug is a great fly right now.  A tandem set-up with a size 12 beaded nymph followed by a zebra midge in the color of your choice is also working well.  Don’t forget the fluorocarbon when nymphing.  It is very strong and invisible to the fish under water.  If you don’t have it you might stop in the shop and grab a spool of the Trout Hunter fluorocarbon tippet material.  It comes in half X sizes.  When I might use 6X, I am now using 5 ½ X.  It works great, is stronger than regular nylon, and you can land fish more quickly.  It  also comes in 50 meter spools.

The lower Big Wood in the Canyon is fishing very well with streamers or small nymphs.  On our trip yesterday there were very few rising fish, but they fed well on our scud pattern.  I had a beginner couple from Brazil who landed over twenty trout and missed another twenty in a couple of hours.  They had a great introduction to Idaho trout fishing.  Quite a change from their farm in Brazil where they fish Dorado with lures. 

The warm weather has not affected the water quality on Silver Creek.  I visited the creek on the last day of chukar season on Jan. 31^st.  It is flowing crystally clear, there is no ice, and bank access is easy as there is little snow left.   Philo Betto or black buggers on a floating line cast across and down with a mending retrieve and stripped back at the end of the swing is enticing to both the browns and rainbows.

The Lower Lost is flowing at 108 cfs right now, just about perfect.  The same techniques and flies that work on the upper Big Wood will produce on the Lower Lost.  Chances of an encounter with a midge hatch or even a baetis hatch are better on the Lost than the Big Wood right now.

A trip to the South Fork of the Boise would be worth the effort as well.  Midges and micro baetis hatches could bring some fish to the surface right now.  Copper john nymphs dead drifted from the riffles down into the pool water will be effective for numbers of trout.  A report came into the shop yesterday of a 31 ½ inch rainbow landed on a red copper john.  That river grows some over-sized trout, and you could even find a nice bull trout.

Zac is geared for Magic ice fishing.  He reports nice sized perch fillets on his dinner table.  I admit to some bluegill fillets from Carey lake. 

Time to dust off the fly gear and tying vises, most hunting is over and an afternoon on the river is pretty pleasant.  An eagle and a herd of elk topped off our day yesterday.  There is not a much better place to be than the river. 

Tight loops,

Scott Schnebly/Lost River Outfitters

PS: From Susanne:

Just a quick reminder that we have some great clothing items on sale right now! They are not all marked off yet, so be sure to say something when you come into the store! 

All Fall 2013 Puffy Jackets are 25% off, we're doing a little house cleaning in our fishing shirts department, so ALL Ex-Officio clothing is 25% Off right now! All Mountain Hardwear clothing is 25% off as well and so are our winter boots. Great deals on Merino Wool and Baselayer pieces.
 Just come on in and check it out!