Idaho Fly Fishing 5 min read

Fly Fishing Silver Creek: Map & DIY Guide

Ken Sperry

Posted by Ken Sperry

January 23, 2025

Brown Trout caught in Silver Creek in Idaho

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on fly fishing in Silver Creek, Idaho. Silver Creek is a world-class trout stream known for its crystal-clear spring-fed waters and abundant trout population. It offers a challenging yet rewarding experience for anglers looking to test their skills.

About Silver Creek

Fly fishing the Brown Drake hatch on Silver Creek near Picabo, Idaho.

Located in central Idaho south of Ketchum, Silver Creek is a renowned spring creek that meanders through picturesque meadows and farmland on its way to the Little Wood River. Its slow-moving, gin-clear waters are home to wild rainbow, brown, and brook trout, making it a prime destination for fly fishing enthusiasts.

Why Fish Silver Creek?

Silver Creek is famous for its large, wary trout and technical fishing conditions. The creek’s abundant aquatic vegetation provides an ideal insect habitat, leading to prolific hatches throughout the year. Combined with tricky currents and ultra-clear water, Silver Creek creates a unique environment where stealth, patience, and precise presentation are key to success.

Silver Creek Map

Before heading out to fish, you’ll need a good map of Silver Creek.  We’ve got you covered with the DIY Fly Fishing map and mobile app.  All the best places to fish in Silver Creek are included on the map, so you can spend more time fishing and less time worrying about where the best spots are.

Get Directions to the Fishing Access Points shown above with the DIY Fly Fishing Map

Best Places to Fish Silver Creek

Silver Creek Preserve

Fly fishing at the Silver Creek Preserve, managed by the Nature Conservancy.

The Nature Conservancy manages the Preserve, which offers public access to some of the creek’s most productive sections. Anglers must sign in at the visitor center. Wading is permitted in designated areas, but be prepared for soft, mucky bottoms and dense aquatic vegetation.

Public Access Areas

Outside the Preserve are public fishing easements and access points along the creek. Be mindful of private property boundaries and respect landowners’ rights.

Fishing Techniques and Tips

  • Match the Hatch: Silver Creek trout are selective feeders due to the abundance of insects. Observe the water to identify current hatches and choose imitations that closely match natural insects’ size, color, and behavior.
  • Stealth and Presentation: With clear water and cautious fish, it’s essential to approach the stream carefully to avoid spooking trout. Use light tippets (5X to 6X) and focus on achieving a drag-free drift.
  • Dry Fly Fishing: This is the most popular method on Silver Creek, especially during prolific hatches of mayflies and caddisflies. Be patient and wait for rises before presenting your fly.
  • Nymphing: Nymph fishing can be effective when surface activity is slow. However, navigating the submerged vegetation can be challenging. Use weighted patterns carefully to avoid snagging.
  • Terrestrials: During the summer months, grasshoppers, ants, and beetles become important food sources. Terrestrial patterns can produce exciting surface action, especially on windy days.

Floating Silver Creek

Man fishing from a float tube on Silver Creek in Idaho

Fishing from a float tube is a popular way to access Silver Creek, as the banks are marshy, and often, it is hard to get in and out of the river without kicking up a lot of mud. Certain sections are managed strictly as a float tube fishery where wading and fishing from canoes or kick boats are prohibited.

Float Tube Only Section

  • Below the mouth of Loving Creek to Kilpatrick Bridge, aka the “S-Turns.”
  • Kilpatrick Pond (above the bridge) down through Purdy Ranch (below the bridge).
  • Wading and fishing from canoes and kick boats are not permitted.

Silver Creek Hatches

Understanding the creek’s entomology is crucial. Key hatches include:

  • Blue-Winged Olives: Occurring in spring and fall, these mayflies can be as small as size 20-22.
  • Pale Morning Duns: Prominent in early summer, usually sizes 16-18.
  • Callibaetis (Speckled Duns): Found in slower sections and ponds, hatching throughout the summer.
  • Brown Drakes and Green Drakes: Large mayflies that create spectacular evening hatches in early summer.
  • Caddisflies: Various species hatch from late spring through early fall.
  • Tricos: Begins in late July; these tiny flies in sizes 20 to 22 create a feeding frenzy.
  • Midges: Present year-round, especially important during colder months.

Best Flies for Silver Creek

  • Blue-winged Olive: Parachute Adams #18-20, Olive Sparkle Dun #18-20, Pheasant Tail Nymph #18-20
  • Pale Morning Dun: Yellow Sparkle Dun #16-20; PMD Cripple #16-20
  • Callibaetis: Parachute Adams #14, Callibaetis Spinner #16-18
  • Brown Drake: Lawson’s Brown Drake #10, Brown Sparkle Dun #10, Hare’s Ear Nymph #10
  • Caddis: Sparkle Pupa #14-16, Spent Wing Caddis #14-16
  • Trico: CDC Trico #20-22, Polywing Trico #20-22
  • Midges: Griffith’s Gnat #18-22, Palomino Midge #16-22, brassie #16-20

Best Time to Fish Silver Creek

Silver Creek fishes well from May through October, with July through mid-August being the most popular fishing time. Bear in mind you won’t be alone on the water. Up to 10,000 people pass through the Silver Creek Preserve at the height of summer, most fishermen.

Plan to arrive early and stake out your spot!

Gear Recommendations

  • Rod and Line: A 4- to 6-weight rod with a medium to fast action is suitable. Floating lines are standard, but having a roll cast-ready setup can be beneficial due to bankside vegetation.
  • Leaders and Tippets: Use long leaders (9 to 12 feet) tapered to fine tippets (5X to 6X) for delicate presentations.
  • Wading Gear: Lightweight waders are recommended. The creek’s bottom can be soft and uneven so a wading staff may be helpful.
  • Additional Gear: Polarized sunglasses for spotting fish and a wide-brimmed hat for glare reduction and sun protection.

Silver Creek Fishing Report

Area fly shops, guides, and websites that can provide a Silver Creek fly fishing report and update on current conditions are listed below:

Stream Flow and Current Conditions

Check the stream conditions before heading out to fish Silver Creek. The USGS stream gauge at Sportsman Access near Picabo provides a good indication of current conditions.

The graph below shows the stream flow (discharge) for the past seven days. If flows are considerably above or below historical norms (yellow triangles on the chart), fishing conditions may not be ideal.

SILVER CREEK AT SPORTSMAN ACCESS NR PICABO ID

  • Temperature: 41 ° F
  • Streamflow: 114 ft³/s
  • Gage height: 6.72 ft
Temperature GraphStreamflow GraphGage height Graph
USGS

Fishing Seasons and Regulations

Fishing on Silver Creek is generally open from the end of May through November, but regulations can vary by section. The Nature Conservancy’s Silver Creek Preserve, a protected area dedicated to preserving the creek’s natural habitat, has specific rules, including catch-and-release policies and restricted fishing methods. Below are regulations that apply to particular sections of the river.

From its mouth upstream to the bridge near milepost 187.2 on Highway 20 west of Picabo

  • Open all year
  • Trout limit is 2, none between 12 and 16 inches

From the bridge near milepost 187.2 on Highway 20 west of Picabo upstream to the confluence of Grove Creek and Stalker Creek

  • No fishing from rafts or boats; float tubes are allowed
  • December 1 through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend – closed to fishing
  • Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30 – trout – catch-and-release, fly-fishing only, no bait allowed, one barbless hook per fly

Kilpatrick Pond, from the Kilpatrick Pond diversion dam upstream to Kilpatrick Bridge

  • No fishing from rafts or boats; float tubes are allowed
  • April 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend – closed to fishing
  • Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through March 31 – trout – catch-and-release, fly-fishing only, no bait allowed, one barbless hook per fly

Always check the current Idaho fishing regulations before planning your trip.

Conservation and Etiquette

  • Catch and Release: To preserve the fishery, practice catch-and-release. Handle trout gently and minimize time out of the water.
  • Respect the Environment: Stay on designated paths, avoid damaging vegetation, and pack out all trash.
  • Mind Other Anglers: Silver Creek can be popular, so be courteous. Give fellow anglers plenty of space and avoid crowding.

Planning Your Trip

  • Best Times to Fish: Early mornings and late evenings are often the most productive times to fish, especially on hot summer days.
  • Local Resources: Consider visiting local fly shops or hiring a guide to gain insider knowledge on current conditions and effective strategies.
  • Accommodations: Lodging options are available in nearby towns such as Ketchum and Hailey.

Embrace the challenge of fly fishing Silver Creek, and you’ll be rewarded with unforgettable experiences and the opportunity to connect with one of Idaho’s most treasured spring creeks. Happy fishing!

Looking for more places to fish? Check out our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing in Idaho.