Boise River, South Fork

GAGE LOCATION

DAY/YEAR
GRAPHS

CURRENT
STAGE/FLOW

WHAT TIME

S. Fork Boise near Featherville

7 30 year

3.34 / 1240

8 am

S. Fork Boise below Anderson Dam

7 30 year

5.13 / 1810

7 am

CITY

Mountain Home

NOAA

Accuweather

TWC

HATCH

NYMPH/
LARVA

PUPA/
EMERGER

DUN/
ADULT

EGG-
LAYER

Pale morning dun

Spotted caddis

Green caddis

Golden stonefly

Yellow sally

Salmonfly

Cranefly

Midge

Sculpin

Hopper

Baitfish

Beetle

Ant

Expect salmonflies and golden stoneflies for the first couple of weeks of July. Size 14-16 yellow sallies will build in intensity; the yellow sallies are an afternoon and evening event.

Flows below the dam can still be variable, so watch the river charts carefully. If there's a change, it may take a few days for trout to adjust to new water levels before they become surface-oriented again.

Usually the main July hatch is the pink albert hatch, but they have been unreliable the last couple of years. If the bugs show up, match them with a size 16-18 Comparadun or Sparkle Dun with a pale to pinkish body; for very rough water situations, go with a high floater, such as a Grizzly Wulff.

Caddis will be present all month. A pupa pattern such as a Sparkle Pupa or Z Wing Caddis (size 16 olive) and an adult pattern such as a size 14-18 tan, gray, or olive Elk Hair Caddis, CDC Caddis, or Casanova Caddis should do well. The pupa can be fished all day. The adult imitation will work best after 4:30.

Later in July you'll find hoppers on the river.

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.