There’s a magical period in the Boise River every evening when the surface of the river bubbles with feeding trout.

It’s so cool to see, especially with the evening light casting an array of golden colors on the water. Combine that with the browns, golds and greens of the river’s bottom seen through the rippling clear waters, and it’s Nature’s artwork at best.

The river is a beautiful place to be, right in the middle of town, and what a spot to spend an evening after work. Although you’ll see a lot of surfacing trout, they can be finicky. I hear that caddis patterns are working the best.

There are plenty of fish. Idaho Fish and Game stocks the river a couple of times a month. The section from Barber Park to Glenwood Bridge was scheduled to get 4,000 trout in September and the area below Glenwood, 3,500 fish.

And, with river flows going down it’s getting easier to wade and stalk trout.

So, don’t forget the Boise River on your fishing checklist.

Other streams

This is an incredible time for stream fishing from the South Fork of the Payette River to the Upper Salmon River near Stanley. A friend hooked into some nice rainbows in the Upper Salmon downstream from Stanley.

Creeks and rivers are low and clear and we have prime fishing conditions in fall. All the forks of the Boise River should be good bets in the coming month.

You’ve got to love fall. It’s a time of the year when you’ve got to carry the fishing rod right along with the shotgun or rifle. There are too many things to do.

Good fishing. Oh, I mean, hunting. Well, whatever.

Pete Zimowsky: 377-6445