Big Lost River

GAGE LOCATION

DAY/YEAR
GRAPHS

CURRENT
STAGE/FLOW

WHAT TIME

Big Lost at Chilly

7 30 year

2.20 /

4 pm

Big Lost at Howell Ranch

7 30 year

1.59 / 80

4 pm

BIg Lost near Arco

7 30 year

1.94 /

4 pm

CITY

Mackay

NOAA

Accuweather

TWC

Ketchum

NOAA

Accuweather

TWC

HATCH

NYMPH/
LARVA

PUPA/
EMERGER

DUN/
ADULT

EGG-
LAYER

Spotted caddis

Green caddis

Golden stonefly

Midge

You can often sight-fish on the Big Lost on sunny days, but when the water is low, non-beadhead nymphs are best because they don't make as much of a splash when they land in clear, slow water. Also, streamers are not as effective here as on some rivers.

The best area to fish is near the dam because that's where the water is warmest and thus feeding, active trout will congregate there. As the water flows downstream, it cools off.

Size 20-22 black midge patterns work well when midges are hatching. A black Parachute Hares Ear or a Sprout Midge should do the job, but you might need a 7X tippet and a downstream presentation. Subsurface, go with size 16-18 red Brassies and size 20 Pheasant Tail nymphs. A Copper John can be effective in deeper pools.

Near the end of February, you'll see hatches of blue-winged olives if the temperature is consistently 35 degrees or warmer.

The Big Lost's whitefish population is spotty below Magic Reservoir, so egg patterns are not very effective for trout in the winter.

See the Rivers in General section for additional tips.

For more on January tactics and flies, see the Rivers in General report.