Bear Gulch
Here is another Cardiac Canyon location sure to get you away from the crowds. It’s now a bit late in the year to fish the big stonefly hatches here, but consider putting it on your “have to visit” list for next year’s stonefly season. If you do, you could witness one of the densest giant stonefly hatches anywhere as well as rainbow trout as large as anywhere else on the river with a few brown trout to boot. To get there, take the Mesa Falls Scenic Route (Idaho Highway 47) east from Ashton. Drive past the Three Rivers area a few miles to an ample turnoff on the left where the old Bear Gulch Ski area use to be. From here an old service road passes an abandon ski lift and ends within one hundred yards of the river. That distance is completed on a good trail, and here the river looks almost like a big pond. It hosts some of the biggest trout in the entire river. On getting to the river you will hear the roar of rapids above and below this almost still water. Above and below the river cascades, but holds runs and pockets good enough to hold numerous trout. Some boats holding eager anglers may come through, but not in numbers found in Box Canyon, the Riverside Campground to Hatchery Ford section or especially the Warm River to Ashton Reservoir section below. This time of year you can enjoy an afternoon caddis hatch dense enough to cause what Mike Lawson labels “bronchaddis.” You will also experience fish taking PMDs in various parts of the life cycle. Presenting a dry golden stonefly pattern could still be effective. But coming soon is a most interesting way to enjoy the big and vigorous trout present. That would be with terrestrial insect patterns, and afternoon are the best time of day to be here. Soon hoppers in uncountable numbers will abound the grassy slopes. Ants and beetles will be scurrying everywhere. And those big trout will be near the banks waiting to pick all these off. All this activity will continue maybe to the first week in October. From where you first reach the river a trail goes upstream along the steep bank. I prefer to follow this upstream and fish the bank side runs, pockets, and the overhangs this time of year. Yes, there is good water downstream, but in my experience going upstream you will encounter more of it. Go far enough and you could approach the fabled “Surprise Falls”, that capsizer of unobservant boaters. Speaking of boats, after the giant and golden stoneflies go through, you are likely to see very few boats, and those you see are mainly sight seeing tourists or kayakers coming down from the Grandview access just below Lower Mesa Falls. Speaking of walk-in anglers, you will also see fewer of them after the big stoneflies have gone through. I usually wade wet during summer months, but you can easily pack waders in by choice. At least a six-weight system with stout (3X) tippet is best for the powerful water here. Bring that camera!
