Not many boats on the lake yet and the same for anglers seem wading shallow areas. That speaks to needing an uptick in trout activity. With an unsettled weather pattern predicted for much of the upcoming week, look for fishing success to improve.
Below Mackay Reservoir
Flow out of Mackay Dam is down to around 300 cfs. Wading carefully is possible, and look for flow to drop further as we head into fall. Cool mornings are the rule, but by mid-day warm air temps will bring on good BWO, caddis and midge activity. So life cycle patterns for these will be effective. Terrestrial insect activity will also begin by mid day and will continue to be so until a killing frost.
It’s still flowing too high for good wading conditions below the Dam ( currently about 550 cfs). When and if it drops to around 300 cfs, it will be worth a visit. It can be a beautiful place to fish during the fall season with great scenery, abundant BWOs, caddis and a good residual hopper and ant population. We will keep track of its flow situation and report when to consider a visit.
Forget about easy wading and good fishing in the river below Mackay Dam until the fall season at the earliest. High flows will prevail until water level allows dam repairs to begin. The river above the reservoir offers good fishing especially below the North Fork confluence. Copper Basin streams are mostly at base level flows. Trico and other spinner falls provide early in the day action. Action slows during mid day, but well placed hopper. caddis life cycle, and traditional attractor patterns can bring responses from resident trout. Expect fly fishing company coming from the Sun Valley-Ketchum area.
Flow out of Mackay Dam is reducing, but very high (about 850 cfs) for safe wading. Autumn and late summer are great times to fish this section of the river. We will keep track of flow reduction in order to give you more info on best time to visit. With respect to drainage above the reservoir, Copper Basin in particular, streams have rounded into good shape, but visits from Sun Valley-Ketchum area fly fishers are abundant. Folks from these places have fewer miles to travel via Trail Creek Summit than fly fishers from the Snake River Plain and “yonder.”
Flow out of Mackay dam is still close to 1000 cfs. That to high for safe wading. It’s an unusual situation because of run-off coming into the reservoir from above. Water is flowing even down to Arco wher years ago good fishing was possible. This high flow will end soon, and we will report such because this stream and its Copper Basin headwaters are important destinations for many fly fishers.
About 1000 cfs of water is coming out of Mackay Dam. This means difficult and somewhat dangerous wading in the river below. Look for flow out of the dam to remain this high until run-off from the upper drainage begins to drop.
Mackay Reservoir is being emptied enough to catch high runoff from upstream drainage. About 1700 cfs coming into the river below. This makes for some flooding, dangerous access, let alone difficult fishing.
With flow out of Mackay Dam about 1400 cfs, wading the river below is downright dangerous. This flow is being done to make room for unusually high run-off coming into the reservoir.
Flow out of Mackay Dam is nearly 1000 cfs ( makes for dangerous wading conditions) as water managers make room for high run-off coming into the reservoir which is ice free.