A Contining Approach to Fly Fishing, August 8th, 2023

Fish on for a Beginning Fly Fisher

few weeks back we offered small stream recommendations for visits by youth, entry level, and physically challenged fly fishers. If some of these folks express interest in visiting larger, more interesting streams with safety and convenience in mind, we can help once again.  Safety would include such as slow to moderate current, easily negotiable banks, and optional wading.    Convenience would include easy access, ample back casting room, minimal marshy  areas, and few obstructions ( stream side brush, rocky slopes, etc).  These considerations make meadow and other open areas great candidates.  Several area streams with these properties are in this area. Let’s look at some.

The Teton River offers great locations including the old dam site access and Basin locations such as the Rainey campground area.  The Blackfoot River Wildlife Management Area is another with its vast flat meadow reaches. McCoy Creek in its middle section is worth visiting as is Warm River just below its major spring.  Further away, such as Silver Creek along the IDF&G property, the Little Wood River in the Bear Tracks preserve, and the middle Portneuf River above Lava Hot Springs are good candidates.

All these waters host trout ranging to trophy size.  This time of the season top water fishing can be successful thanks to abundant terrestrial insect populations. Five weight systems and floating lines are suitable for the above discussed waters, and each has plenty of room for long, drag free floats.

The next step in this somewhat graded approach would be introduction to our big waters where boating provides much more access than walking banks. Through this approach the budding fly fisher has a chance to experience the wide variety of streams  our area offers.