I know that the boise river does not get the publicity that silver creek or the snake river gets, but it is a wonderful wild trout river that hosts Native Bull Trout(Endangered), Native Cut Throat, Wild Rainbow Trout, Native Mountain Whitefish, Brook Trout and Salmon. Currently a Canadian Mining company is trying to build a cyanide leech mine at the headwaters of the Boise. Such a move would expse the river to Cyanide and large amounts of Diesel fuel, not to mention sterile sediment unable to grow life. Anyone who can help discourage this opperation please help. I have lived in Nevada and have seen these operations firsthand. The land is never the same and the track record of this type of opperation in my estimation is risky. I usually do not get involved but this is where I learned to fish. Remember Montana?
Here is a report from one of our local trout shops:
Like the Upper South Fork, the Middle Fork of the Boise is a back country gem that produces an abundance of wild cutthroat and rainbow trout. Most range in the 10" - 14" class, but we have had several fish reported upwards of 16". Equally,it receives very little pressure from the public at large. These fish violently attack attractor patterns in late summer, and are a kick on lighter gear (0 - 3 weight rods). If you are looking for an afternoon of open water, virtually no crowds, and an abundance of fish looking up, I would highly recommend fishing this little stream. This is great dry fly fishery for the beginner and experienced alike.
I fish the southfork as well and love the hatches. Although they are not as fat, The North and middle fork of the Boise provide fiesty fish who take large drys with gusto.
The wildfires were pretty serious around the Atlanta, ID area in 2000 or 2001. That is the only other “Atlanta” in the US that I know of, and never have seen it.
That is the correct Atlanta, the fires were pretty harsh those years but the area is making a solid comeback.
Good news, I recieved an email today from the mayor of Boise asking me to attend a meeting in September and to submit a letter on my observations working with the mines in Nevada to include in his final report.
If you ever get a chance, come back to this area and fish the headwaters of the Boise or some of the high mountain lakes in the Sawtooth mountain range.
The scenery is awesome and some of the lakes are only an hour hike from the trail head.
The crystal clear water and selective fish of those lakes makes for some challenging fishing, and the hike ensures that there is hardly any fishing pressure…