Silver Creek

by Doug Truax

"Silver Creek is home to an abundance of rainbow, brown and brook trout."

	Silver Creek is home to many hefty rainbow trout.

Silver Creek, in south-central Idaho, is one of most fertile and prolific spring creeks in the country. Its cool, high-alkaline waters, lush with vegetation and teeming with aquatic insects, make it a perfect home for trout.

The stream gathers from hundreds of smaller spring creeks flowing out of the southern end of Wood River Valley and the pastures below the town of Gannett. Just 30 miles to the north is Sun Valley, the world-famous ski resort founded by the Union Pacific Railroad in the mid-1930s. The steep mountains offer a beautiful backdrop to the smooth, placid creek and the flat high-desert country to the south and east. They also offer an important historical backdrop to Silver Creek.

To promote its newly launched ski resort, the Union Pacific invited Hollywood stars like Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert and Gary Cooper to visit its slopes and frolic in its luxurious lodge. The public-relations ploy worked and Sun Valley soon became the resort of choice among well-heeled skiers.

Because the ski season was short, the railroad looked for a way to make Sun Valley a year-round draw. Following the same formula, it invited America's larger-than-life outdoorsman, Ernest Hemingway, in the fall of 1939. By then Hemingway wasn't much interested in stream fishing, but the abundance of waterfowl, upland birds, and bigger game like deer and elk kept Papa coming back almost every year for the remaining 20 years of his life.

Other sportsmen, however, were enthralled by the area's rich trout waters. Among them was Hemingway's son Jack, who had joined his father on many of those early trips to Sun Valley and would later spend a good portion of his life there. It was Jack Hemingway who organized a group of sportsmen and conservationists to help preserve 480 acres of Silver Creek habitat in the mid-1970s. The group contacted the Nature Conservancy, which bought the land and created the Silver Creek Preserve.

The preserve, on the westernmost part of the creek, allows only catch-and-release fly fishing with barbless hooks. All anglers must register at the Conservancy headquarters before entering the river. Just downstream is some of the creek's best fishing, especially in midsummer when the Tricos hatch in swarms and the trout gather in pods to slurp them off the water's surface.

Farther downstream is the famous Purdy Ranch, an exclusive fishing club that holds some of the creek's best water. Non-members can gain access in a float tube or canoe but must avoid trespassing on the ranch's property. This area is still catch-and-release only, but anglers can use single, barbless-hook lures as well as flies.

Below Purdy Ranch the creek crosses U.S. 20 and heads north for a few miles before heading east again. This public area is open to bait casters and spin fishermen or those who want a couple of fish for the creel. The limit is two fish over 16 inches or under 12 inches.

Silver Creek is home to an abundance of rainbow, brown and brook trout. Though not native to the system, these fish are the descendants of generations of wild trout. None has been planted here since 1975, and the fish thrive on a smorgasbord of insects, including Tricos, Baetis, Pale Morning Duns, caddis, stoneflies and Brown Drakes.

This fecundity of trout and bugs doesn't mean that the fishing's easy. In fact, the opposite is often true. Getting a trout to take an imitation can be nearly impossible amid all that bounty. The water is very clear and the fish can be highly selective. Add to that multiple hatches occurring at the same time and it's easy to see why Silver Creek can confound even the most experienced anglers.

Veterans recommend using 5X, 6X, and yes, even 7X tippets, depending on the hatch and how finicky the fish seem. Likewise, it's often best to cast down and across or directly downstream to avoid spooking the fish with your line or leader. Presentation is key, but getting a drag-free float can be a challenge because the river flows slowly and has many different currents.

In May, little Blue-winged Olives begin to appear in the mornings and afternoons and you can match them with size 20 flies. June is a good time to try Pale Morning Duns, #16 to #18, in a variety of patterns. Brown Drakes hatch in mid-June just north of U.S. 20 downstream to Picabo. And Tricos hatch in profusion from mid-July till the end of October up and down the entire length of the creek. Sizes range from #20 to #24.

Silver Creek runs between 30 to 90 feet wide, depending on the location. Depths range from two-foot shallows to pools that go well over six feet. Add to that the soft, silty bottoms in some areas and you'll see why wading with caution is critical. Watch each step, even when entering the river. Apart from keeping you dry, careful wading can also help you catch more fish.

For more information contact Silver Creek Outfitters at 208-726-5282.

Copyright (c) 1998 All Outdoors. All rights reserved.