Lower Big Wood River, Idaho

Lower Big Wood River.  Idaho

Nikon D3S & Nikon 35 f2 lens

Thanks go out to the Wood River Land Trust for coming up with, hopefully, a permanent and successful solution to the minimal flows on the Big Wood River below Magic reservoir.  In the past, by late October the water flow below Magic Reservoir was not enough to sustain the trout population and with the current plan on trying to maintain 15 cfs of released water (there is also a minimal amount of seepage flow as well) the approx. 3 mile section below Magic could really become an incredible fishery.  This also serves as a great example of a "win win" when it comes to Idaho's anachronistic water laws.

Nikon Micro 105 Plus Extension Tubes

Backlit mayfly spinner

 

Frontlit mayfly spinner

The use of extension tubes allows for greater "magnification" but greatly reduces the depth of field essentially making the focus plane extremly narrow.  On a full frame sensor like the Nikon D3S, using extension tubes also causes some vignetting--darkening of the corners.  These images were taken handheld using an iso of 1,600 in order to get a shutter speed fast enough and an aperture around f10 for a reasonable level of depth of field.  On cold mornings mayflies and bugs in general are far more still and much easier to capture...

Camera: Nikon D3S

Lens: Nikon Micro 105 with extension tubes

Fly Fishing Photography & Sun Valley Fishing Report

feeding rainbow troutSilver Creek Riser


callibaetis spinnerSilver Creek Callibaetis Spinner

 

silver creek hopperHopper.  Silver Creek

Camera: Nikon D3S

Lenses: Nikon afs 80-200 f2.8  & Nikon Micro 105 f2.8

 

The Fishing:  The Big Wood is currently running at 379 cfs with the historical mean at 285 cfs.  The fishing on the Wood has been so-so with sporadic caddis and small stones.  The thunderstorm activity is supposed to wane starting Wednesday and we'll see how the warmer weather changes the fishing.  As it is, I would be on the water around 9:30.  Every day has been a little different but it has been slowing down around 4 PM.  The evening fishing is far better when we have hot daytime temps...  Silver Creek has been pretty consistent in the morning starting around 8 or so.  Think tricos, baetis and still a few small # 18 pmd's followed with callibaetis.  With the cooler weather we have been enjoying the hatch time has lasted until or after 12.  Damsel flies, hoppers, beetles and ants have also been good stuff in the afternoon.  Like the Wood, the evening fishing is far better when we have hot daytime highs.  The Big Lost is running at 489 cfs with the historic mean at 484 cfs.  Still a few golden stones and pmd's and yellow sallies with craneflies and caddis added to the mix.  Every section is fishing a little different so be prepared to observe a little and adjust.  Remember, "you can observe a lot just by watching." YB

Silver Creek Black & White

Silver Creek & Storm.  July 2011

Camera: Nikon D3S

Lens: Nikon 35 f2

There was a pretty dry and super windy and dusty storm at Silver Creek last night.  A few people were on the water braving the elements.  Can't imagine the fishing was any good but the light was fantastic.  No lightning as I was hoping for but the dark brooding sky was more than enough.

Sun Valley Fishing Report

Big Wood River:  Running around 2,450 cfs the Wood is off color and cruising.  It will be awhile, probably after the 4th of July, before it becomes reasonably fishable.  The Big Lost keeps going up as expected and is running at 1,350 cfs as I write this.  Silver Creek is our only real viable option and has been inconsistent.  Pmd's, baetis, callibaetis and a few green drakes in the Nature Conservancy area.  I fished the S-Turns in the Nature Conservancy today and it was SLOW.  We had a good but short pmd and baetis emergence and by 10:30 or 11 it was over.  On the brown drake front, it could be over other than a few little trickles here and there.  Could still be worth the effort to head down tonight but there were very few bugs in the grass today which means you would be hoping for a spinner fall...

 

Here are a few images taken on Silver Creek 2 nights ago:

Camera: Nikon D3S

Lens: Nikon 24 PC-E

Brown Drakes & Spring Green

 

Camera: Nikon D3S

Lenses: Nikon 24 PC-E & Micro 105

The Big Lost is now just over 1,000 cfs and is cruising right along and the Big Wood is just under 2,500 cfs.  Silver Creek is in the middle of brown drake madness and there are baetis, pmds, callibaetis and a few green drakes in the Nature Conservancy area.  The mosquitoes have also arrived...

Sun Valley Magazine

The new summer issue of Sun Valley Magazine is out and I have done the photography for a feature piece titled, Fish Food.  Check out the new issue in person or visit their web site.  Here's a link to my piece on their site:  Fish Food

Camera: Nikon D3S

Lens: Nikon 14-24 f2.8

 

On a fishing note: I was back on Silver Creek again this morning through the early afternoon and did not see a single drake...  The wind event was not bad and the temps were quite nice; mid to upper sixties.  The late morning baetis seems to be picking up momentum.  It has been starting around 10:30 or 11 and coming off in pulses contingent on the weather.  They are small so bring plenty of #20 patterns with you.  There are also pmd's lingering.

Are those temps coupled with our very cool spring enough to get the brown drake hatch going?  Who knows...  You can either head on down or read about it here once it starts.

Silver Creek Update

 

Having some fun while waiting for brown drakes.  We found a giant beetle and hucked into the creek.  No takers, but it made for an interesting minute or so as we watched it float downstream...

First, the answer is I have still yet to see brown drakes on Silver Creek.  The evenings have been spectacular but essentially bug free.  Who knows when this thing will actually get going but it is very likely to be this week.  There were enough baetis around 8 PM to get a few fish up but that was it. 

Images taken with the Nikon D200 and 14-24 f2.8 lens

Big Lost River In May And More...

Lots to post here...  Here are 3 images from a recent day on the Big Lost River.  The water flow is about 445 cfs at the moment and could any day go beyond fishable.  It's still clear though and enough baetis to make the purist smile.  The moody skies of May are here too.  Probably my favorite month of the year to shoot.  Clouds and contrast and sometimes thunderstorms and wind and snow up high and budding trees and the prevalent cottonwood stench by the water.  We are FINALLY starting to see some green on our trees and the recent warmer temps--supposed to get a bit moody again through the week--have brought our freestone water much higher.  The Big Wood is blown and flowing at the moment just under 2,000 cfs.  Should be a substantial runoff year. 

Big Lost River Rainbow

 

I was just asked by a talented Swiss fly casting instructor, Christopher Rownes, for my permission to use a few of my images on his site.  It's a great site with lots of underpublished black & white images.  Black & white is so many things yet infrequently used commercially in the fly fishing world.  It's without a doubt my favorite medium.  Check out his site and a few of my images along with plenty of other great images HERE. 

On another note, and an inspirational one too, I just came across an incredible slideshow of underwater wave photography.  It's really a must see as it's evocative and captures moments most never see.  It's called The Underwater Project and it's by Mark Tipple.  Here's the Link: The Underwater Project

Color Eyes Pro & Monitor Calibration

Silver Creek Trumpeter Swan


I have been having a very difficult time for the last year or so trying to get exactly what I see on my iMac monitor and a print to look precisely the same as far as luminance and color go.  Sounds easy...  Well, after doing quite a bit of research and after biting the bullet, about $300, I just bought and installed Color Eyes Pro.  The installation and calibration is moderately easy.  The directions could be much better and offer better guidance.  But, after finishing calibration and then comparing a few prints today to what my monitor showed I am very happy.  Most older iMac screens do not offer the ability to lower the brightness (luminance) enough. Many of my prints were turning out too dark and then I would need to re-edit.  Not an ideal situation.  In any event, if your prints are not turning out how you would like or if you know you need monitor calibration then I highly recommend Color Eyes Pro.  I will save many many hours as a result of having a properly calibrated monitor.

Big Lost River

 

I fished the with these two brothers on the Lost the other day and their stoke to be on the river was very evident which made for a memorable day.  Total enthusiasm and even toward each other.  The above image sums up the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Stoke"

Clouds, A Fencepost & The Big Lost River

"Thunderhead"

"Fencepost"



"Fencepost" is a freelensed image taken with the Nikon 105 2.8 lens.

Still a COLD and wet Spring here but if you are intent on good dry fly fishing, now might be the best time of the year on the Big Lost River.  The water level is about 288 cfs and from roughly 11:30 AM to 4 PM the midge and baetis madness erupts.  Cloudy days have been far better.  It really is a treat to have a great Spring tailwater fishery in our backyard open.  With steelhead season in full swing, many are focused on the Salmon River and have forgotten about the trout thing.  Should be great stuff on the Lower Lost until the water levels go way up sometime in mid to late May.

Salmon River Steelhead

 

 

 

 

More images from Stanley, Idaho.  The warmer weather finally has brought the Salmon River up a bit and I suspect it will continue to go up until at least Tuesday when the overnight low is supposed to be back in the teens...

On another note, I recently licensed an image to Orvis.  It is a brown drake shot and is being used as a header on their fly fishing web page.  You can check it out HERE.

Salmon River

Female Steelhead

Old Cabin.  Stanley, Idaho

Salmon River

Salmon River

 

We are in the middle of our steelhead season on the Salmon River near Stanley.  Lots of cold and wet and snowy weather so far...and as payday, steelhead too.  The water level should finally make a bump later this weekend as high temps are looking to migrate to at least the mid-forties.  Any small bump at this point should really get things going as more fish will likely move upstream and other runs will become fishable...