Sun Valley Sport & Outdoors

48STRAIGHT Halfpipe Competition

Say it ain't so! Less than two weeks after the 2009 Winter Games of Idaho were canceled due to the lack of sponsorship, the struggling economy has claimed it's latest snow sports victim, 48 Straight. The 48 Straight Tour, which had planned events in Telluride, CO among other venues, met its untimely end after the principal sponsor Jeep pulled its sponsorship. Jeep, along with the other "Big Three" American auto makers General Motors and Chrysler, was hit particularly hard by the latest economic downturn and appears to be depending on a government rescue package to stave off bankruptcy. Given the current economic client for auto makers, it is understandable that 48 Straight might face some challenges in reprising the tour this year.

The suffering economy has claimed its latest victim and while it wasn't another portion of the housing sector, it was an event that made many proud to call Idaho home. KTVB Boise is reporting that due to a drop in sponsorship brought about by the weak economy, the 2009 Winter Games of Idaho have been canceled.

Weekly fishing reports are provided by Silver Creek Outfitters

Water Conditions
August 22nd Streamflows

Big Wood
2008 - 146 cfs
2007 - 97 cfs
2006 - 246 cfs

Big Lost2008 - 376 cfs
2007 - 332 cfs
2006 - 503 cfs

S.F. Boise
2008 - 1870 cfs
2007 - 1730 cfs
2006 - 1600 cfs

Reservoir Storage (% of Average)
Anderson - 105%
Little Wood - 60%
Mackay - 75%
Magic - 50%

Year to Date Precipitation
Big Wood - 88% (% of Average)
Little Wood - 83% (% of Average)
Big Lost - 84% (% of Average)

Change in the Air

“Weather is the key to fly-fishing. Foul weather, usually: imitation commando wool sweaters, hooded rain slickers, wool hats, fingerless gloves, long johns, wet cameras, wet camps, cold food, shots of whiskey for the illusion of warmth. It seems to have some weird connection to that good old protestant ethic wherein anything that’s easy or that feels good is sinful. You can catch trout on a warm pretty day, of course, but you’ll probably catch more if you suffer. In a strange masochistic way, it only seems right.” - John Gierach

The approach of the Fall is in the air. Daytime temperatures are a few degrees lower, night time temperatures force us into morning sweaters and hunting dogs are coming out of a summer slumber and getting spirited.

Weekly fishing reports are provided by Silver Creek Outfitters

Water Conditions
July 30th Streamflows

Big Wood 2008 - 248 cfs
2007 - 140 cfs
2006 - 449 cfs

Big Lost 2008 - 489 cfs
2007 - 365 cfs
2006 - 596 cfs

S.F. Boise 2008 - 1820 cfs
2007 - 1790 cfs
2006 - 1720 cfs

Reservoir Storage (% of Average)
Anderson - 107%
Little Wood - 80%
Mackay - 93%
Magic - 69%

Year to Date Precipitation
Big Wood 88% (% of Average)
Little Wood 84% (% of Average)
Big Lost 82% (% of Average)

Midsummer Days

“Most of the fishermen I know - even those who think of themselves as Sportsmen with a capital S – have a creek like this somewhere in their lives. It’s not big, it’s not great, it’s not famous, certainly it’s not fashionable, and therein lies its charm. It’s an ordinary, run-of-the-mill trout stream where fly-fishing can be a casual affair rather than having to be a balls-to-the-wall adventure all the time. It’s the place where for once, you are not the tourist. Even the guy in Idaho, who lives within day-trip range of some of the best trout rivers in North America , has this little creek tucked away somewhere. He can’t brag about it in the usual extravagant terms, but he still likes to show it off to, as he put it, “the right people.” - John Gierach

Things are taking a dramatic turn on area rivers, as the seemingly endless array of “easy” fishing opportunities becomes more and more limited.

Weekly fishing reports are provided by Silver Creek Outfitters

Water Conditions
July 4th Streamflows

Big Wood 2008 - 849 cfs
2007 - 206 cfs
2006 - 1190 cfs

Big Lost 2008 - 639 cfs
2007 - 473 cfs
2006 - 450 cfs

S.F. Boise 2008 - 993 cfs
2007 - 1830 cfs
2006 - 1660 cfs

Reservoir Storage (% of Average)
Anderson - 107%
Little Wood - 80%
Mackay - 93%
Magic - 69%

Year to Date Precipitation
Big Wood 91% (% of Average)
Little Wood 88% (% of Average)
Big Lost 84% (% of Average)

Fishing Fireworks!

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” -Erma Bombeck

With many area rivers coming into prime shape we are truly enjoying a feeling much like opening weekend. There is a lot of water that has not been fished yet this summer, a lot of fish that have yet to see a fly and an overall forecast that looks great! Expect more people on the water between now and Labor Day weekend, but also expect to see people spreading out. High mountain lakes are opening up, freestone rivers are dropping, tailwaters are rising, while others are dropping in all the right places. July is looking like it may be the best month of the summer season for fishing this year.