Sun Valley/Ketchum

[Neals]

Next weekend I will be in the Sun Valley area and need some advice as to where I could fish. Any and all info would be appreciated since I have never been in that area before. I could travel up to 45 minutes from Sun Valley to reach some different water. I hope to find a place where my wife could catch some fish too. Thanks

[The Duck]

Hi,
If you have never fished in the area, you are in for a treat. The Big Wood River and Silver Creek are the most popular spots in the area. Both are very good quality waters. Depends on what your call is. Silver Creek is the classic spring creek with lots of hatches and fish with high IQ's. Some great fishing to be had if you are in to that style of fishing. The Big Wood is also a fine trout stream, but, easier for the common everyday flyfisher to manage. Your wife could do well here also. Also, good fish with some pretty good hatches at times. Both streams have quality fishing regulations on sections of the water so be sure you get a copy of the Idaho fishing regs. For more up-to-date information check out one of the fine shops in the area.

The Duck,
http://www.forumco.com/FlyFishIdaho

[ElkHair]

I just spent 5 days camping/hoteling the area. I would suggest you use the 45 minutes for travel, go over the Lost River Pass and fish the Lost River drainage in the Challis National Forest. Although the water looked good in Ketchum/Sun Valley (Big Wood, Silver, etc...) the wader hatch was more than I cared to stomach.

[raposaNegra]

(15+ years ago) every summer we would do a back packing trip out of RedFish Lake. On the way home we would stop and fish a particular stretch of the BigWood..... we would catch more 18+ inch wild rainbows than you could shake a stick at....... Now the pressure on the river is so high that all you catch are 13" planters.

Our spot on the river was about 5 miles north of Ketchum. There is a bend in the road with a rail on it... turn on to the dirt road at the far end of the rail. There is now a footbridge at the bottom end of this stretch, to let you know you are in the right place.

Silver creek is a classic but the fish are FINICKEY. If you don't mind a drive, Stanley creek can be fun about a mile above Stanley.

There are also numerous hotsprings in the area that are great soaks.

Central Idaho is still my favorite place!

Have fun.