CHALLENGE IN PARADISE: FLY FISHING SILVER CREEK
Silver Creek is one of the great fly fishing destinations, and certainly one of the most challenging. Situated in Picabo, Idaho, about an hour south of Ketchum, it’s where to test your dry fly skills. There are very large trout, very clear, cold water and active hatches throughout the season. I wrote a story about it for the Robb Report that gets into more detail.
Silver Creek as the weather arrives. Top: Taite Pearson in his element.
If you have experience fly fishing Silver Creek is definitely worth a pilgrimage. It’s some of the best public water in the country, overseen by the enlightened and quite remarkable Silver Creek Preserve. If you’re looking for a guide (and the first time you fish there you should) I would call Silver Creek Outfitters in Ketchum and ask for Taite Pearson. He’s a good friend and is one of my favorite angling partners, and he spends as much time on the creek as anyone.
Here’s some Silver Creek wisdom from Taite himself:
-Patience and discretion. “Flies need to be presented down river on long leaders and light tippet. Perfect drifts with the fly being the first and only thing the trout see are vital.”
-Don’t rush. “Slow down. Match your casts, hook sets and over all approach to the slow, meandering, gentle pace of the water.”
-When to go. “I think anytime is a good time for a first timer on Silver Creek. If you want to have better odds than the fabled average of 1 in 10 anglers landing a fish come in early June. great hatches and the fish in the Preserve stretch of water haven’t seen flies since Thanksgiving.”
-Favorite hatches. “Mahoganies! In the cooler fall months there are fewer anglers. This bug is the last larger mayfly the trout will see until the PMDs start in late Spring/early Summer.”
The path to Silver Creek. All photos: DC.
You can stay at the new, reasonable and perfectly acceptable Silver Creek Hotel, a 20-minute drive away in Bellevue. If you’re feeling more daring there’s a single room attached to the Picabo Angler, which serves as a diner, outfitter, unofficial Hemingway museum and general store. It’s also a gas station and if you imagine a room is like that’s attached to a gas station you get the idea.
If you’re in the area you can drive north and in less than two hours visit my beloved Idaho Rocky Ranch. If you’re inclined to fish more then you can float the Salmon River, which is scenic, much less challenging and a perfect trip for beginners (ask for my man Verlon Herdon, also booked through Silver Creek Outfitters. It’s a wonderful area—you can drive from Boise (about three hours), or tack it onto a trip from Montana, it’s a scenic 6-hour drive.
Speaking of fishing, if you’re interested in joining the Patagonia trip I’m hosting in January you can read more details here or write contact@thecontender.co.