Big Wood River

Located near Ketchum, The Big Wood River is a freestone stream that holds a great number of rainbow, brown, and brook trout. It's headwaters start just west of Galena Peak and flows to the southeast down to Sun Valley.  From here, the river parallels Route 75, and flows past Ketchum, and Bellevue before it empties into Magic Reservoir.  Route 75 provides plenty of access areas to the river, making it a very angler friendly place to fish.  Below Magic Reservoir is a tail-water section that is also popular among anglers.


The upper section of this river is mainly a pocket water style fishery.  After it's confluence with the North Fork, the river becomes wider and starts to slow down. From here down to Bellevue, the river becomes more of a typical freestone style of fishery. These 25 miles or so consist of deep pools, long riffle runs, and a few areas of pocket water.  This is section is mainly populated by rainbows that average 12" - 14".


The water from Bellevue down to Majic Reservoir is subject to heavy irrigation use. On low water years, the river here can almost run dry.  However there is a great population of brown trout here that can provide for some excellent fishing, when the flows are right.


Fly anglers can expect to find very prolific hatches on the Big Wood.  There are a ton of different mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies that keep the fish growing here big and strong. The dry fly fishing here can be awesome form late June (after run-off) all the way thru winter.  Blue-winged Olives, Pale Morning Duns, Western Green Drakes, Tricos, and Mahogany Duns all make up the significant mayfly hatches. Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, Black and Brown Caddis, Salmon Flies, Terrestrials and Midges, all round out the other major food sources for these fish.


If you want to catch the trophy fish that reside here, make sure to bring the streamers with you.  Flies like Woolly Buggers and Matuka's fish great all year round.


 

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