Browns on North Picabo Road

silver creek brown trout

Two weeks ago I fished a section of Silver Creek along North Picabo Road. I had the place almost to myself. That was good. The water there is quite tough as there is, especially at the East Access, few trees or even bushes along the creek. In full sun with the creek surface mirror-like, you are exposed. And trout have great vision. The water has significant weed growth often seemingly solid from one bank to the other. The hatch was weak: some Mahoganies and a few Olives but nothing significant. The Mahoganies did bring up some fish for an hour or two at most in the early afternoon and that was welcomed. Most of the time I simply had to watch the water patiently for signs of life and fish a terrestrial pattern, usually a beetle. I often remained still for 30 minutes or more in a stretch before spotting or hearing some sort of movement (feeding). Often it was a subtle sip or in contrast a quick lunge at some sort of food type before quickly returning to cover and then nothing for a long time. Sometimes I'd hear something, then look and see a surface bubble next to a bank which suggested a rise. With these occasional signs of life there was some hope and opportunity. I spent 3 or 4 days fishing this section of the creek and managed to connect with a few nice Browns. The whole place was silent and completely still. It was so quiet at one point I remember only being conscious of a ringing in my ears. I have not experienced silence like that since being in Patagonia 15 years ago. I'll go back to North Picabo Road.

My best fish, Browns, were landed on:  small black beetle: size 16 Mahogany; and a Damsel fly.

silver creek east