Fishing Season: Year Round

Boise River - ID

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

42

Chad Allen's Tip of the Week

Boise River (In-Town) Flows are 279 at Glenwood, making the river very fishable! Small nymphs have been productive with good blue wing hatches in the afternoon. Small, natural colored streamers stripped slow or dead drifted have been catching some nicer fish as well South Fork Boise Tailwater The river is right at 300 below the dam. You can wade all over the whole thing. Nymphing a rubberlegs and a small nymph in the morning has been good. Midges have been hatching throughout the day with BWOs in the afternoon. Still seeing a few PMDs in the afternoon as well.

Directions open in app

Map of Boise River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Tight Lines

5-Day Outlook as of 11/20/25

South Fork Boise Tailwater Expect flows not to change much through the winter. Blue wing fishing will continue to be good until we get a few hard freezes and the temps don't go much above freezing.

Techniques & Tips as of 11/20/25

Streamer fishing for the local in-town fishery would be a great way to cover water

Local Species Available Year Round

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    Rainbow Trout

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    Brown Trout

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    Whitefish

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    Pike Minnow

Chad Allen's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Tungsten Nemec Stone Nymph brown 8-12
Tunghead Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail N/A 16-18
Hawkins' Hat Trick olive 8-12
I Can See It Midge Fly black 18-22
Zebra Midges Black 16-20
Pheasant Tails Brown 16-20
Midge black 18-22
Bead Head Soft Hackle Hare's Ear Nymph black 16-20
FB Hares Ear Tan 16-20
Cheech Leech Red/Blk 4

Tungsten Nemec Stone Nymph

Reach the deepest lies with this tungsten stonefly nymph.

2.99

Item #9R8R

Buy Now

Chad Allen's Recommended Gear

Description: About Boise River

The Boise River consists of three separate forks that emerge from the Sawtooth Mountain Range. The confluence of the North and Middle forks join together near the town of Idaho City. The North fork is roughly 50 miles long. The Middle Fork is about a 52 mile stretch. Once joined together, the river continues its flow until it reaches Arrowrock Reservoir. The South Fork of the Boise River is a 101 mile stretch that rises from the Sawtooth National Forest, out of the Soldier and Smoky Mountains near Fairfield, Idaho. The South Fork flows into Arrowrock Reservoir and eventually joins the other sections at Arrowrock Dam. Past the dam, the river flows west adding in the Mores Creek tributary as it passes through Lucky Peak Dam and into the Boise area. Throughout the city of Boise, the river is lined with a 35 mile recreational and alternate transportation area known as The Boise Greenbelt. The Boise River then winds west toward northern Canyon County, where it eventually meets up with The Snake River at the Idaho-Oregon Border.

Nearest Airport:

BOI

Hatches:

SF Boise: PMDs, Blue Wings, Midges Boise River in Town: Blue Wings, Midges, Streamers

Best Time to Fish:

Morning

Best Stretch:

Below Anderson Dam down to Danskin Bridge.

Best Access:

Barber Park to Eagle, use the Greenbelt to access the water, for in town fishing.