The FISHING REPORT
Updated 8/15/24
The Owyhee River
The Owyhee River:
Mornings: Early risers might need a bit of patience if you’re hunting for trout that are popping up. If you’re itching to go dry, hit the banks with those terrestrial patterns. Trout have been known to chomp on bugs right by the shore and even in the middle of the river, though it’s a bit of a sporadic show. Think larger ants (sizes 18-14), beetles (sizes 14-12), and some smaller hoppers (sizes 12-10) to catch their fancy.
Afternoons: That’s when the real fun begins! Dry fly action ramps up, and you’ve got two exciting options: BWO or PMD. If BWOs (sizes 18-22) are making a splash, come prepared with all sizes. Light grey/olive colors are your secret weapon, but if you’re struggling, downsize fast—a size 22 can work wonders where a size 20 flopped. Captive duns are your best bet, but don’t forget the size 20 grey Adams if you’re feeling adventurous!
On the flip side, PMDs (sizes 18-16) might steal the spotlight. These hatches can be tricky, so bring a variety of patterns: captive duns, full adults, hatching PMDs, crippled versions, and even a mahogany captive dun to mimic the early stages. PMDs are the brain-teasers of hatches, so be ready to experiment!
Caddis: These little flutterers (sizes 16-12) are showing up, so if you spot some splashy rises, throw in a CDC or elk hair pattern. And for a bit of morning mystery, give the rusty spinner (sizes 16-18) a whirl—fish aren’t crazy about it yet, but you might get lucky!
Nymphing: If you’re an early bird, small nymphs (sizes 18-22) with minimal weight can be your best friends. Our guides rave about the zebra midge, pheasant tail, and San Juan worm for those first-light bites.
Streamers: For those who like to keep things simple, streamers are always a go-to. Dalai Lama patterns and sculpzilla variants are favorites. Small bugger patterns work well too—just let them swing and wait for that thrilling tug!
So grab your gear and head to Owyhee for a mix of thrilling hatches and great fishing fun. See you on the water!
South Fork & Middle Fork of the Boise River
SF Boise River
Hey there, river enthusiasts! The SF Boise River is flowing at a perfect 1200 CFS, making it ideal for a full day of floating and fishing fun. Here’s your guide to catching some epic fish and enjoying every minute on the water:
Golden Stones & Hoppers: Mornings are your time to shine with Golden Stones (sizes 8-12). While naturals aren’t exactly partying in the water, these guys still work wonders. But wait—hoppers (sizes 8-12) are the real stars right now! They’re everywhere, in colors like tan, yellow, red, and even green. If you’re not getting any nibbles, don’t be afraid to swap colors every 15-20 minutes. Fish can be pretty picky, so keep those hopper colors changing to find the flavor of the day.
Caddis Craze: Caddis (sizes 10-14) are buzzing around, especially in the morning. If you spot fish steadily feeding, throw on a caddis by itself or as a dropper off your hopper. Bigger caddis have that meaty, fleshy look, while smaller ones come in tan, olive, brown olive, or black. It’s like a buffet for the fish—give them what they’re craving!
Nymphing Know-How: If you’re up for a double whammy, try adding a nymph dropper to your top-water setup. Copper Johns, caddis pupa, Frenchies, hot-spot Hare’s Ears, and perdigons are all solid choices. We’ve had great luck with this combo, so it’s definitely worth a shot if the fish are being a bit finicky.
Serious Nymphing: For those who want to get down to business, don’t shy away from double-beaded stonefly nymphs or your favorite stoneflies. A double rigged nymph setup can work wonders, especially early in the day.
Pink Party: Around 1:30 pm, pinks (sizes 14-18) start making their debut, but the real magic kicks off around 2 pm. The pink pattern the fish are into can vary by section of the river and from day to day. Bring a variety of pink patterns—both full adults and captive duns—to find the perfect match for what the fish are craving.
Streamer Strategy: Streamers are always a good option. Fish can be a bit choosy, so bring a range of colors and mix up your retrieves—try fast, slow, or letting it sink before you start your retrieve.
So grab your gear, enjoy the flow, and make the most of your day on the SF Boise River. Happy fishing!
Middle Fork Boise River
Hey, river rats! The Middle Fork Boise is looking hotter than ever—well, cooler, actually. With flows dropping fast, it’s prime time to get those lines wet. Here’s the lowdown on what’s popping:
Dry Fly Delight: This stretch of the Boise is a dry fly paradise, and right now, attracter patterns (sizes 10-14) are your golden ticket. Bring out the big guns with colorful stimulators—orange, red, yellow, purple, and green. The fish here love a splash of color, so why not turn it into a fun game? See which hue turns the fish on the most, and be ready to switch it up. Some days, it’s like they’re having a party, and you’re invited!
Cool Waters, Hot Action: The water’s still cool and refreshing, but as summer heats up, so will the temps. Focus on the riffles where fish are on the hunt for your dry fly. If you’re not catching anything, don’t sweat it—just keep moving and find those hungry fish!
Nymph Nirvana: For those who like a little nymphing action, perdigons (sizes 12-16) are your go-to. The fish aren’t too picky and will often snap up whatever you throw their way, wet or dry, as long as it’s in their zone.
Streamer Surprise: If you’re feeling adventurous, don’t forget about streamers (sizes 2-10). These bad boys can help you land some of the bigger, brawnier fish lurking in the stream.
So, grab your gear, embrace the vibrant color game, and get ready for some awesome fishing on the Middle Fork Boise River. The fish are waiting—let’s make it a day to remember!
The Boise River
Boise River in Town:
Hey anglers! Buckle up for an exciting August update on the Boise River! Here’s your go-to guide for making the most of your next fishing adventure.
River Flow & Temperature:
Currently, the river’s flow is cruising at a solid 700-800 CFS, providing that perfect Goldilocks level—not too high, not too low. Water temperature is currently in prime condition, but brace yourself for a bit of a warm-up once the Lucky Peak Dam construction kicks off. So, if you’re looking for ideal conditions, now’s the time to get on the water!
Hatch Highlights:
The river’s buzzing with activity and a smorgasbord of bugs! Here’s what’s hatching:
- Morning: Tricos (sizes 20-22) are making their appearance, with their tiny size and delicate nature adding some finesse to your morning game. Keep an eye out for Caddis (sizes 14-18) and PMDs (sizes 16-18) making their moves, too.
- 9 AM: Tricos hit their peak—time to adjust your strategy if you want to match the hatch.
- 10-10:30 AM: PMDs start to lift off—perfect for those looking to match the midday buffet.
- BWO Alert: While the Blue-Winged Olives (size 18) are around, fish seem to be favoring the other critters. Keep a BWO handy, but don’t be surprised if they play second fiddle.
Nymphing Nirvana:
If you’re into nymphing, you’re in luck! The Boise River nymphing game is top-notch right now. Try out a hot spot hare’s ear, Frenchie, or a variety of perdigons for a guaranteed good time. And don’t overlook the juju baetis—an excellent choice for a dropper rig.
Streamer Action:
Feeling a bit bold? Streamers are an option, especially when water flows start dropping. Territorial fish will be more aggressive and ready to defend their turf—perfect for getting some thrilling strikes!
Pro Tip:
Swing by the local guides to get the inside scoop on their favorite nymphs. They’ve got the lowdown on what’s hot and what’s not, so don’t miss out on their expert advice.
So, grab your gear, head to the Boise River, and get ready for an action-packed day on the water. Happy fishing!
Silver Creek
Silver Creek:
PMDs (size 16-18) start your day on the creek. Fish can be found rising in the mornings, and it’s a safe bet to take a selection of PMDs to try out. Full hackled adult, CDC winged adult, cripple pattern, emerger, RS2, and even the looped wing emerger can entice a fish to take. Now be sure to watch the behavior of the rising fish when you come across one. The fish can become extremely selective as to what pattern they want that day and time, but the way the fish is feeding tells you how it should be approached. A simple rising fish will be closer to the surface. This requires an accurate cast in the feeding lane, no more than 3-5 feet upstream of the fish. If you see a “splashier” rise, the fish may be keyed onto caddis (size 12-16). If you notice the fish rising, but is facing downstream during the take, then you will need a longer presentation to the fish, 10 to 15 feet, upstream. This downstream eating is a particularly selective fish, but can be caught if fished the proper way.
As the day warms up, we notice a lack of rising fish. However, fish can still be caught on the surface with a medium-sized terrestrial like a beetle (size 12-14) or a larger ant (size 12-14). We are seeing more and more grasshoppers (size 8-12) as the temperatures warm up. When throwing terrestrials, be sure to provide a long drift, especially in deeper water. When nothing seems to be coming up, a nice long drift in the deeper water can sometimes surprise you with a hungry trout.
SMALL CREEKS
Small Creeks:
Most small creeks will be blown out due to run off. However, there are always those really small desert creeks that hold red-band rainbow trout. Spring is the best time to fish those creeks as it is still too cold for the rattlesnakes.
Duck Valley
Duck Valley:
The water is starting to get weedy, but fishing is fantastic. Buggers (size 8-12) of all kinds can attract hungry trout, and be sure to trail off a small damsel nymph (size 12-14) to get the fish that are after those. This is a great time to fish right now because the cooler weather has kept the water temps down; however, with warmer temps the bugs are going crazy. If you have ever wanted to fish Duck Valley, now is the time. A floating line will work, but an intermediate line can bring you far more success. Play with depths – sometimes counting to 30 can really change your success rate.
Bass & Warm Water Fishing
Warm Water Fishing:
Now is the time. The cottonwood seeds are falling and a thick mass of them on the water will bringing up carp to the surface. This is the one time that you can find carp steadily rising near the bank of the river or in a back-eddie. The carp have been very active, often tailing or ambushing our bass fly. We have a selection of carp flies in the shop to choose from.
The bass are willing to eat. Top water popper fishing is a very fun way to catch bass on a fly rod. The morning is the best time for this kind of activity. Flashy streamers will also do the trick, often changing out colors to see what the bass are after that day: olive, gold, black, white, brown, or any variety of those colors.
Bluegill and sun fish are in our local ponds, and a great way to get kids into some fish quickly. Small ant patterns can trick a small sunfish into a strike, or a small nymph that is looking to escape the wrath of a fish. Adding small breaks in a retrieve will be key in getting the sunfish to hit.
High Mountain Lakes
High Mountain Lakes
Hey Outdoor Enthusiasts! Ready to trade city lights for mountain heights? July is your golden ticket to mountain lakes, where snow-free trails and epic fishing adventures await. Here’s your fun-filled guide to making the most of your alpine escapade!
Trail to Trout: July means snow is out, and trails are in tip-top shape for hiking up to those pristine mountain lakes. But before you head out, don’t forget the essentials: sunscreen to fend off those UV rays and bug spray to keep those pesky mosquitoes at bay. Trust us, the backcountry mosquitoes are like tiny, buzzing fans of your fishing adventure.
Fly-Tastic Fun: Pack a variety of flies—think ants, beetles, hoppers, and stimulators in all shapes and sizes. Mountain lake fish often go nuts for terrestrials because, well, they’re like the buffet of the bug world. Fish tend to focus on these land-based critters that drop into the water, so make sure your fly game is strong.
Casting Tips: Walk the lake’s edge and give your fly a little smack on the water followed by a few twitches. This little showstopper can entice the fish lurking nearby. Some lakes favor the dainty small terrestrials (sizes 12-16), while others are all about the big, bold ones (sizes 8-12). If you’re hitting the lake early in the season and the fish are a bit shy, toss in a few buggers (sizes 8-12) to tempt them from deeper waters.
Need Directions? Lost in the wilderness? Fear not! We’ve got an array of books and maps ready to guide you to your mountain lake destination. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a first-timer, we’ve got you covered!
So, grab your gear, hit those trails, and get ready for an unforgettable mountain lake fishing experience. Happy angling!