Fly Fishing Forecast: 
August 14 – 21

“Early on I decided that fishing would be my way of looking at the world. First, it taught me to look at rivers. Lately, it has been teaching me how to look at people, myself included.” – Thomas McGuane

Once you gaze upon a river with angler’s eyes, you will never see it the same. Suddenly, you see beneath the surface a world of currents and light mingled with life. And when the water’s surface turns to a mirror, your imagination fills in the rest. Each time you look there is something familiar and something unexpected; it changes as the seasons change. Let the river be your guide this August.

The mornings continue to be the most productive time on the Creek; however, the Trico spinner falls are brief, and at times intense. In fact, the pre and post Trico spinner fall can be the better fishing. Try seeking out individual fish with a Trico Dun or Callibaetis Spinner as you wait for the spinners to come down. Once the spinners get low over the water, be sure you are ready to go. You might try fishing a small 22 or 24 Harrop’s Hen Winged Baetis or Trico Spinner with a light and long leader of about 12 feet to 6, 6.5, even 7X tippet. We can also expect the midday Callibaetis and Damsels in the Pond to become a staple. On windy days, try beetles, ants, or hoppers. The evening fishing remains good with an array of different bugs: caddis, small PMDs, Baetis.

The Wood cleared after last week’s rain and it seemed to improve the fishing. The cool influx of rain water and cooler morning temps have brought some of the bigger fish back out to play throughout the day. Focus your attention on the soft water next to the fast, deep water. While fishing dry dropper rigs or Euro Style is the most productive often the biggest fish are in the shallowest water where most anglers like to stand and a good dry fly angler has the best shot. As for bugs look for Tricos in the AM in the lower reaches of the Wood all the way up into Ketchum. Caddis are still abundant as well as some Baetis and small stoneflies.

While quite low, a stealthy angler can have a great time on these to small river gems. They have been recently stocked around the bridges and some select campsites and there is a good population of wild trout in both. The hatches are very similar to the Wood and the same array of bugs will do the trick.

The wade fishing around Stanley is fantastic and we are still floating the lower reaches of the river.  Fishing remains consistent with hoppers, Spruce Moth patterns, Yellow Sallies, and Caddis. Nymphing will produce a lot of action on whitefish and trout.

The flows remain at 800 CFS. At these flows, wade fishing the best option. Try hoppers or big foam attractor patterns along the bank. The best hatch activity is in the late afternoons into the evenings with Pink Alberts and Caddis. Nymphing can be productive all day with large rubber leg stone fly patterns, caddis larva, and midge patterns.

The flows have dropped making it easy to move about the river.  In general, the fishing has been fair with a decent number of small wild fish. A few larger Cutthroat and Cutbows can be found for anglers that cover a ton of water. These fish are opportunistic feeders and you need to be on your game to capitalize on the strikes you get or you could go home frustrated.

With flows just above 400 CFS strong waders can get around.  With the high flows, nymphing is the most productive technique, but pockets of risers can be found. A crashing take usually indicates a large crane fly being taken. At the moment, the fishing is best early and late. During the middle of the day, the large Big Lost Bows like to sit in shallow water and ignore your flies and then fade into the deep water.