Big Lost River, May 6th, 2023
Flow out of Mackay Dam has dropped from around 450 cfs to 200 cfs making for easier wading in the river below. Midge and BWO activity provides action. Use life cycle patterns for these.
Big Lost River
Big Lost River, October 18th, 2022
Flow out of Mackay Dam was reduced to 79 cfs a few days ago. This action will concentrate fish in deeper water in the river below and make for easy wading. With nice days remaining until this weekend, now may be a good time to visit the river below the dam and take advantage of trout chasing hatching BWOs and midges and a few remaining hoppers.
Big Lost River, October 11th, 2022
Flow out of Mackay Dam has been constant at around 180 cfs for at least a week. So wading is relatively easy and water conditions stable. Weather features crisp, cool AMs with some frost and sunny, bright afternoons. BWOs, midges, a few remaining hoppers and other terrestrial insects make top water fishing attractive during afternoons. Certainly presenting traditional nymph patterns and small woolly bugger and rubber leg patterns will be effective any time of day.
Big Lost River, October 1st, 2022
With flow out of Mackay Dam just below 200 cfs and likely to drop further, the river is a good option for a visit. BWO and midge activities will supply most of the action for feeding trout, so their life cycle patterns are good choices Don’t overlook trying a medium sized woolly bugger type or rubber leg pattern into deeper holes, and on warmer, sunny day try hopper and ant patterns still produce.
Big Lost River, September 10th, 2022
Flow out of Mackay Dam is about 200 cfs meaning wading the river below safe. As weather cools, look for BWO activity to increase to attract trout along with terrestrial insects doing the same.
Big Lost River, August 27th, 2022
Flow out of Mackay Dam has been raised to 260 cfs. This increase will make wading the river below a bit tougher, but terrestrial insect and caddis life cycle patterns during mid-day and PM hours are still effective as are trico life cycle patterns in the AM.
Big Lost River, August 6th, 2022
With flow out of Mackay Dam a bit below 300 cfs, wading is much safer. A few western green drakes and golden stones are likely still around, so their life cycle patterns should be in that fly box. The most effective dry patterns, however, will be those for terrestrial insects. Hopper patterns in sizes large enough not to be sunk by a suspended nymph pattern of choice should be particularly effective.
Big Lost River, June 11th, 2022
With 900 cfs coming out of Mackay Dam, consider that wading the river below is downright dangerous.
Big Lost River, June 4th, 2022
Irrigation demands have taken over and flow out of Mackay Reservoir are close to 500 cfs making wading below the dam dangerous. Water in the reservoir is limited, so flow will decrease eventually, and we will watch this situation and relate when flows drop to safer levels.
Big Lost River, May 16th, 2022
Want to escape the Henry’s Fork-Henry’s Lake crowds and busy highways going there and back? Here is a place to consider: with less than 100 cfs coming out of Mackay Dam, resulting easy wading, and fish responding midges and BWO activity and a few isoperla stone flies, its will be relatively tranquil.. Look for the reservoir above the dam to also provide good fishing through boating until more crowded opening day weekend conditions.