Idaho Fishing Reports ยท Central Region
Silver Creek is a famous spring creek near Picabo with big, wary rainbows and browns in slow, weedy water and some of the best dry-fly fishing in the West.
Looking for the latest Silver Creek, Idaho river report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Silver Creek.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Silver Creek fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The creek is clear, and BWOs and midges bring fish up on calm, cloudy afternoons.
Below the preserve, streamers and a slow strip along the weed beds can find browns.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Silver Creek Preserve, bring: Trico Spinner #20-22, Parachute Adams #18-22, Callibaetis Spinner #14-16, Damselfly Nymph #10-12, Zebra Midge #20-22, Woolly Bugger #6-8, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-20, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Silver Creek details
| Access | The Nature Conservancy Silver Creek Preserve (sign in at the visitor center), plus Kilpatrick Bridge and Point of Rocks below. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 4,800 ft |
| Nearest town | Picabo, Idaho |
| Best season | Summer through fall, plus winter rules below the preserve |
| Fish | Rainbow and brown trout |
| Regulations | Fly-fishing only and catch-and-release on the preserve. Check the Idaho Department of Fish and Game seasons and rules before you go. An Idaho fishing license is required for anglers 14 and older, plus a steelhead or salmon permit where those fish are targeted. |
| Leaders and tippet | 12 to 15 ft leaders, 6X to 7X tippet |
| Camping | Camp in Hailey or Carey |
| Kids | Partly. Easy banks but very technical fish. |
| Good to know | No wading on parts of the preserve. Float tubes are allowed in some areas. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Below-preserve winter fishing on some reaches.
Spring
BWOs.
Summer
Tricos, PMDs, callibaetis and damsels.
Fall
BWOs and browns.
How to get there
From Hailey, take State Highway 75 south and US-20 east to Picabo.