Fishing Season: Year Round

Boise River - ID

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

42

Chad Allen's Tip of the Week

Boise River (In-Town) Nymphing is your best bet to pickup fish, bright colors like red, orange, and purple have been producing. Sticking between sizes of #16-20. Your basic pheasant tails and copper johns have been working, extra split-shot or a heavy bead! Natural colored streamers as well! South Fork Boise Tailwater Winter flows are holding around 300 cfs which makes for great wading.

Directions open in app

Map of Boise River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Tight Lines

5-Day Outlook as of 3/11/25

South Fork Boise Tailwater Expect to see midges and or BWO's in the afternoon. Overcast weather has been a key factor! Bring your nymph box, it can be tough on a sunny day! Boise River in-town will start to crank back on with the warmer weather. Smaller streamers and various attractor nymphs will be the ticket.

Techniques & Tips as of 3/11/25

Bobber Nymphing, Euro Nymphing, and Streamer fishing are all ways to find those fish in deeper pockets. We are seeing the occasional dry fly hatches going into the winter time, fishing emergers can be very productive!

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
Higa's S.O.S. black 18-22
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: BWO and Midges Boise River in Town: Midges and BWOs

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.