Big Lost River

GAGE LOCATION

DAY/YEAR
GRAPHS

CURRENT
STAGE/FLOW

WHAT TIME

Big Lost at Chilly

7 30 year

2.87 / 1000

1 pm

Big Lost at Howell Ranch

7 30 year

3.35 / 866

1 pm

BIg Lost near Arco

7 30 year

3.24 / 57

1 pm

CITY

Mackay

NOAA

Accuweather

TWC

Ketchum

NOAA

Accuweather

TWC

HATCH

NYMPH/
LARVA

PUPA/
EMERGER

DUN/
ADULT

EGG-
LAYER

Green drake

Brown drake

Pale morning dun

Spotted caddis

Green caddis

Golden stonefly

Yellow sally

Salmonfly

Cranefly

Midge

Sculpin

Baitfish

Beetle

Ant

If the flow is under 300 cfs, dry flies should do well.

You may find some golden stoneflies early in the month. Adult imitations such as a Clarks Stonefly, Stimulator, MacSalmon, etc., will take trout. Since this is not a large river you can fish these flies bank-to-bank. Your golden stone imitation will work best in the afternoon and evening hours. For tips on fishing the golden stonefly hatch see Fishing the Salmonfly Hatch, which discusses both salmonflies and golden stones.

Pale morning duns are another story for early July. On clear, warm days the hatch will usually start about 10:30 a.m. and last a couple of hours. There will be a repeat performance in the evening. On cloudy, cooler days there will be only one hatch; it will start later and last longer. PMD hatches on this river are not usually very strong, but some years are better than others.

Yellow sallies are also present this month. They will continue to be a factor through August. In addition to the adults, size 14-16 nymphs work well. Try a CDC Isoperla for the adults and an Isoperla Nymph for the nymphs.

Small size 18 caddis can be found in July. Throughout the month you can expect evening caddis activity. Match those caddis with Elk Hair Caddis, X Caddis, and similar patterns. Both olive and tan body colors should be in your arsenal.

Craneflies are an anticipated event on this river. Expect to see the long-legged critters around mid-month. Both nymph and adult patterns are useful. The Mackay Special is a standard local pattern. For tips on craneflies, see Tying Adult Cranefly Patterns.

Look for hoppers later in the month, too. In the lower river, you can also find carpenter ants.

During July, the upper Big Lost (above Mackay Reservoir) will see hatches of flavs, so be prepared with size 14 Green Drake Cripples and similar patterns. Attractors are also productive here, so try size 12-16 Royal Trudes and Royal Wulffs, and size 14-16 Grizzly Wulffs. You may encounter brown drakes on windless evenings in early July.

See the Rivers in General section for more July fly fishing tips.

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