Trophy Trout on the Owyhee River – (just say Oh-AH-hee)
Tim Welsh just returned from a great fly fishing trip around Boise, Idaho. Here is his report!
The Owyhee River is a tributary of the Snake River located in norther Nevada and southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon. The river runs north from its headwaters and is 280 miles long. The drainage basin covering over 11,000 square miles. The section of the river best for trout fishing are the ten miles below the Owyhee River Dam and Reservoir. The dam was completed in 1932 during the Great Depression and provides electricity and irrigation water to the surrounding area. When it was built it was the tallest dam of its type in the world. (417’) It was the prototype for the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River….but I digress!
The river and tailwater run through a beautiful desert canyon renowned for its trophy-sized Brown and Rainbow trout. Rainbow trout have been taken up to 6lbs in this fishery and Brown trout can easily reach 20+” and larger. The largest confirmed catch to date was 12lbs.
The lower section of the river is best for trout fishing. Dry fly fishing or nymphing requires a natural drift for success. The river has a gentle gradient and runs about 2’-4’ deep in most sections. Very selective trout enjoy prolific aquatic bug hatches during the Spring and Summer as well as an abundance of tiny midges. Skwala, beetles and grasshoppers often fall into the river off the grasses and sagebrush that line the banks. This elicits some exciting top water action especially during a Skwala hatch. When fishing the Owyhee – there are plenty of access points in the tailwater for the first ten miles below the dam – below Snively Hot Springs there is little public access. (see map)
Fishing the Owyhee River with my wife, my son and his girlfriend was a delight. We connected with each other and we built lifetime memories we will always cherish. We all hooked fish. We had some exciting takes and lost some fish with in fights or snapped tippet…but we landed some beauties! The Owyhee River Gorge is one of the most strikingly beautiful settings I have had the privilege to fish. Definitely make your way to the Owyhee!
Preferred fly patterns (Year Round)
- Pale Morning Duns – 16 or smaller
- Elk Hair Caddis
- Skwalan stonefly (dark olive)
- Chubby Chernobyl (black or olive)
- Beadhead Olive Hare’s Ear
- Beadhead Zebra Midge
- Midge – #20-22 under a Dry Fly
Note: Our fish-catching combo was a Chubby Chernobly (black or olive) with a purple #22 bead head Zebra Midge. Everyone fished an 8’6 or 9’ – 5 weight rods. (9’ leader with the dry to a dropper (12-14”) of 6.5X fluoro to the size 22 midge.)
Getting there:
Our party all flew into the Boise, ID airport (BOI). The Owyhee River Gorge is a little more than an hour drive outside the city. We stayed in the Fairfield Inn in the town of Nampa.
Guide Services
Highly Recommended – Owyhee Fly Fisher (208) 642-7898 Ask for Brad or Becky Abbott
Other Shops:
Idaho Angler – Boise, ID (208) 389-9957
Dreams on the Fly – Meridian, ID (208) 861-2853
Bottoroff Guide Service – Meridian, ID (208) 860-3662
