Summer is here! A long, super wet and cold spring has finally given way to some Vitamin D! With the beautiful weather we can expect to see a serious ramp up with the fishing. There are a lot of options as our freestone streams are dropping and clearing. Silver Creek will also start producing bigger hatches and more of them, including the Brown Drakes! Our tailwater fisheries are split between fishing well and not so great.

The Big Wood and the tributaries in the upper Lost River area are rivers to keep an eye on. There are some fishable areas with more appearing every day. The heat may turn the river color off for a few days, but this should be a short occurrence. With clearing water fish really big Stonefly patterns and drop a Copper John or Prince Nymph underneath. Fishing Streamers can be productive as well. Remember the conditions on the Upper Lost follow the Big Wood 10 days to 2 weeks later. 

We are waiting for the Brown Drake emergence on Silver Creek and truly expect it to be happening by the weekend, if not sooner. This hatch traditionally happens mid-June although the past 5 years it has been in late May. Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages for the most recent updates. If you are new to the Brown Drake, it is an evening hatch occurring from Highway 20 downstream to Picabo Bridge. Anglers may also expect to see an increase in the PMD activity as well as the Baetis. If you have doubts about the hatches, just cast a big Ant pattern! Silver Creek fish love them! For the best Mayfly hatches fish the Silver Creek Preserve waters.

The local tailwater fisheries are hit and miss. The Lower Big Lost River is running too high to wade safely. There may be a few spots, channels, eddies that are fishable, but anglers need to search those out. Try fishing red Copper Johns, San Juan Worms and Zebra Nymphs. The South Fork of the Boise is the tailwater that is fishing best. The flows are wadable and the fishing is pretty good. Fish small attractors with small nymph droppers. This is also a good time to fish big Stonefly Nymphs as the Salmon Fly Hatch is not far off! Lastly the Magic Reservoir Tailwater is not fishing very well and may need a season for it to come back into shape!

Happy Fishing Everyone!