Boise has seen a few warmer days with nights above freezing, which is a pattern that can help warm rivers and improve fishing. In late Fall and early winter you can find warmer water by fishing up close to a tailwater dam, but this time of year when you have a string of warmer days and nights the opposite can be true.

Winter outflows from the dam are locked into a constant temperature coming out of the bottom, which is usually around 39 degrees below Anderson Dam and 36-37 degrees below Lucky Peak Dam. Warmer days and nights will allow that water to warm up as you go downstream.

Here is a look at water temps on the Lower Boise River at Glenwood bridge and at Caldwell so far this month. You can see the Boise River at Glenwood is warming a couple of degrees and getting into the upper 30s while the river down at Caldwell is up into the lower 40s.

Just a degree or two of warming during the day can make a big difference. Fishing downstream sections closer to Star can pay off this time of year and focusing on the last few hours of the day can be productive as water temps are at their maximum. This trout was caught on January 2nd between Eagle and Star, the last hour of the day.

Paying attention to water temperature can really improve your fishing. Checking BVFF's Local Waters page for water temperatures on local rivers is a good way to plan your winter fishing.  For more information on how water temperature impacts fishing, see our article Using A Thermometer To Improve Your Fishing.

BVFF members Al & Gretchen Beatty were recently awarded the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFI) Award of Distinction for their years of service and contributions to FFI and promotion of fly fishing.

Al and Gretchen and their achievements are highlighted in the recent FFI magazine publication FlyFisher (Winter 2022).

The criteria for the FFI award is described by FFI as follows:

FFI Award of Distinction (formerly Lapis Lazuli Award)

The ultimate award of Fly Fishers International. Thus, the consideration for individual achievement is extremely strict. Services and contribution to FFI must be prominent and extraordinary, and above all, they must be long term (at least 8 years). They must be significantly above the criteria that would merit consideration for any other award.highest level of recognition bestowed on an individual who has demonstrated.

The criteria are as follows:

Eight years of service to FFI is required.

Service should be voluntary. Time as a paid employee of the Federation, although not totally discounted, would merit minor consideration.

Individual should not have previously won the award.

To preserve the integrity of this award, it is recommended that it be awarded judiciously and infrequently, but it is not intended that the frequency stipulation deprive a truly deserving individual.

This award is the ultimate award of the Federation. Thus, the consideration for individual achievement must be extremely strict. Services and contributions to the Federation must be prominent and extraordinary, and, above all, they must be long term. They must be significantly above the criteria that would merit consideration for any other award.

Election shall be by the Executive Committee. The vote shall require a 2/3 majority. The Chair of the Awards Committee shall be notified prior to the meeting of the Committee to avoid conflict or duplication. Nominations for this award should be made directly to any member of the executive Board.

Tom Old and George Butts presented DIY Alaska at the November general membership meeting.  Tom and George described the planning and true costs of organizing a Do-It-Yourself trip to Alaska and comparison with a trip with a lodge / outfitter.  Tom and trip members spent a year planning and organizing their recent fall trip.

A reference sheet has been posted with information, references, and knowledge learned in their planning and experience with this trip.  You can find the document HERE.

Did you know that your Gore Tex waders will perform better and last longer if you wash them? The same goes for your Gore Tex (and other waterproof fabric) rain jackets. In fact, hanging your Gore Tex raincoat up while it is dirty is a recipe for disaster as the accumulated body oils will break down the Gore Tex membrane and cause it to fail.

Fall is a good time to wash off the summer load of sweat, sunscreen, bug spray and gink. It's easy--here is how I do it. I've listed links below to specific wader manufacturer recommendations. Note that Simms cautions about using old agitator-style washers. As an alternative you can hand wash your waders with a little rub-a-dub-dub in the bath tub.

WASHER INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Examine your waders for damage, like seam-seal tape that is coming off. If you find that, then you should repair it with some Aquaseal first before washing them.

Step 2: Look at your waders to see if they have a tag with washing instructions and follow the recommendations.

Step 3: Empty all the pockets! If you have a zipper, then zip it up! If you can, take off the suspenders.

Step 4: Use a small amount of a mild detergent without any bleach or fabric softener. Even better, use some Nikwax Tech Wash which is designed for breathable materials and will help revive the DWR.

Step 5: Set the washer to a hand-wash or delicate setting, and turn OFF the spin cycle. It helps to set the washer to a "full load" to make sure you get the waders fully immersed and I like to put a cotton towel on top of the load, to help keep the waders submerged.

Step 6: When you go to pull the waders out, be prepared for them to have some water trapped in the booties. Turn them inside-out to flush out excess water and hang them upside-down outside to dry (avoid using the dryer as the heat can do damage). After a few hours turn them right-side out to finish drying.

Oh, and it's a good idea to check inside your washer for any tidbits left over. Even though I carefully check my pockets there is usually a piece of monofilament or a split shot that I missed.

SIMMS Wader Care: 

PATAGONIA Wader Care:

By Dave Shuldes

As I write this I have just put the finishing touches on flies for my annual trip above 8,000 feet in Central Idaho. I love the staging of gear nearly as much as the trip itself. There’s only one shot at getting the kit right for a week in the wilderness, so every detail is double-checked. My fishing won’t be measured by numbers. A few photos of some exceptional fish along with the adventure and the camaraderie of a safe backpacking trip with friends will be all I need.

In addition to taking care of my gear and my friends, one of my goals will be to appreciate and take care of the fish found in these alpine lakes. Just like my camping list, this involves details. When a beautiful alpine lakes’ brookie, cutthroat, golden, grayling or rainbow comes to hand, I’ll show my appreciation for the fish by using these guidelines:

• I’ll use barbless hooks.
• I’ll keep my hands wet while handling the fish and will cradle it rather than squeezing it.
• I won’t touch the fish and will keep it from touching dry surfaces like rocks and grass.
• I’ll keep the fish in the water as long as possible, minimizing air exposure and handling time.

“Take only photos, leave only footprints” as backpackers say. Photos are a key part of my passion for fly fishing and the wilderness. But I won’t appear in any of those fish pictures… I’ll save that for a group shot at the camp. The fish itself is the main event. I don’t stress every fish with the photo process - I will limit that to the memorable ones. Some fish are extraordinary, not only by size but also by vibrancy and markings. I’m looking for colors, spots and details to appear in the frame. Flared fins and a submerged head are a bonus. Ideally the fish will be swimming in the water on the end of the line (to me it’s worth the risk of losing the fish before the photo is taken). I’ll have everything set up on my camera long before the fish is hooked. Holding the fish by the line with the hook still in its mouth in shallow water, I’ll shoot a rapid succession of random shots. I can crop, discard and edit later on. I’ll minimize the photo session time with any one fish and release it quickly after one series of shots.

For river fishing, I’ll add use of a net to my fish handling and take special care to release quickly when water temps are warm. Using the net as a “live well” to hold the fish while it’s reviving is a great opportunity to frame a vibrant swimming photo.

A fish mortality study by R.A. Ferguson and B.L. Tufts considered time a trout was held out of the water. Their findings showed that fish released and kept in the water had a mortality rate of 12%. Fish lifted from the water for 30 seconds had a 38% mortality rate. 72% of the fish held out of water for a full minute died. All research has its flaws, but holding fish out of the water can be harmful if not lethal. I would like to think that most fish handled in the manner above can potentially spawn and be available to another angler in the future. Taking care of the fish in this way is a great fit with our BVFF Angling Code.

I absolutely love what wilderness fly fishing adds to my enjoyment of life. I am so grateful for the wildlife resources we have to enjoy in Idaho. In return I want to appreciate the life involved and treat it well. Tight lines everyone!

It was a peaceful morning at 7,000 feet. The air was cool from the night before and the hot cup of coffee hit the spot. While enjoying the view over the lake something kept dropping on my head. At first I thought it was pine needles from the tree next to me, but then I saw black ants crawling on the bill of my hat. I shook them off and sat back down to finish my coffee, but more ants rained down and I decided to move further from the tree to avoid having to fish them out of my cuppa joe.

That afternoon while fishing the outlet of the lake I had Yellowstone Cutts come up and look at my flys (hoppers, caddis, and misc attractors) but no takers. Remembering the ant rain-storm from the morning I added a #16 black ant as a dropper to my hopper and BAM! First cast a cutthroat took the ant. I fished back through the water I had previously fish and had 6 more cutts come to the ant.

A good reminder, that it is that time of year when an ant pattern should be your go-to fly. Here is a “Bug Corner” article that ran in last year’s Hackle Bender newsletter.

FALL ANTS

When I look back at my September fishing logs I can’t help but notice how many fish have been caught on ants. Usually the ant was a dropper to a bigger fly like a hopper or an October caddis but instead of trout going for those BIG MAC MEALS they wanted the itty-bitty ant—and they often moved a long way to get them!

Ants are terrestrials so it is productive to fish them close to shore and especially near downed trees. Ant patterns are small and not very visible so they work well as a dropper to a larger fly. And it’s OK if they sink a bit because ants often get drowned and trout are on the lookout for them subsurface. In fact, sometimes a sunken ant will out-fish one on the surface.

I usually fish a black or cinnamon color ant in size #16 or #18 but some people swear by a size #20 ant. For years I used a traditional dubbed body ant with black hackle for legs but the last few years I’ve been using a foam-cylinder ant. They are easy to tie, float well and have a bright indicator built in that make them much more visible on the water. It’s also good to have some flying ants in your box as you never know when that hatch is going to happen, and Egan’s Bionic Ant is worth adding to your box.

Fly Patterns

Foam Cylinder Ant

Bionic Ant

January 6-7, 2023

For 18 years, Boise Valley Fly Fishers has proudly presented this two-day event. Over 2500 fly fishers from throughout the western region of the United States attend. Proceeds are used to support fly fishing education and conservation programs throughout Idaho and Eastern Oregon.

Exhibitors will showcase all the latest gear including the latest rods, reels, fly tying equipment, guide services, artwork and more.

Fly tyers from all over the west will demonstrate their skills in small group settings where attendees can ask questions and learn.

Experts from around the country will give demonstrate the latest fishing techniques for different fish species, where to fish, and much more.

More information: https://www.idahoflyfishingexpo.com

ID F&G recently held "Lets Go Fishing" day at Eagle Island State Park on May 28, 2022 as part of its Trailer Education program. The agency partnered with local radio stations for a ‘free fishing fiesta’ Memorial Day weekend to kick off the fishing season in Idaho. BVFF members Troy Pearse and Jon Fishback were there to provide casting instruction and information about BVFF.

Memorial Day marks the unofficial opener to fishing season in Idaho. This was a community event to introduce English and Spanish-speaking residents of southwest Idaho to fishing and recreational opportunities at the area’s state parks.