Big Creek Trailhead (near Taylor Ranch)on Big Creek
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
Mild fall weather with clear skies (66°F)
- 01Mild fall weather with clear skies (66°F).
- 02No USGS flow data, but Big Creek is a remote mountain stream.
- 03Fall hatches of October Caddis and Mahogany Duns are active.
- 04Blue-Winged Olive hatches are also a possibility on overcast afternoons.
- 05Both Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Bull Trout are present and actively feeding.
What to tie on at Big Creek Trailhead (near Taylor Ranch)
Picked from recent reports for this stretch.
Mother's Day Caddis
The prolific Mother's Day Caddis hatch is expected in late April through May, making this dry fly a perfect imitation for adult caddis and attracting Westslope Cutthroat Trout to the surface.
Little Black Stonefly
Little Black Stoneflies are an early spring hatch, often providing the first consistent dry fly action of the year and are actively being fed on by Westslope Cutthroat Trout.
Buy at AmazonBlue-Winged Olive Comparadun
Blue-Winged Olives are actively hatching in early spring, especially on overcast days, and this low-profile dry fly is excellent for selective Westslope Cutthroat Trout feeding on emergers and adults.
Tunghead Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Jig
This weighted nymph is effective for getting down to Westslope Cutthroat Trout feeding on active mayfly nymphs and provides added movement to trigger strikes in spring flows.
Flashback Hare's Ear Nymph
An excellent general searching nymph for early spring, mimicking various mayfly nymphs that are active year-round and particularly as BWOs begin to emerge, appealing to Westslope Cutthroat Trout.
Woolly Bugger (Olive)
A reliable year-round streamer, effective for imitating leeches and baitfish, especially in the colder spring flows, enticing aggressive strikes from Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Bull Trout.
Stimulator (Yellow)
A classic large attractor dry fly, effectively imitating golden stoneflies and large terrestrials, which are active and crucial food sources for opportunistic trout in Idaho's mountain streams during summer.
Hopper
Grasshoppers and other large terrestrials are a significant food source for trout along the banks of Big Creek throughout summer. This pattern effectively mimics them.
Yellow Sally
Yellow Sallies (stoneflies) are common along freestone streams in Idaho during the summer months, providing an active insect hatch for rising trout.
Buy at AmazonIdaho season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.