Free Resource · Updated 2026
Silver Creek near Sun Valley is one of the top spring creek fisheries in the American West. Fed by constant springs, it runs clear and cold through the high desert of central Idaho. Wild brown and rainbow trout hold in the channels and flats, rising selectively to tiny flies. PMD and Trico hatches are the highlights.
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Silver Creek Hatch Calendar — Quick Reference
Silver Creek flows through the Nature Conservancy preserve near Picabo. The preserve section is managed for catch-and-release fishing and holds some of the most challenging trout in Idaho. The water is flat and clear with little current variation. Fish can inspect a fly for several seconds before refusing it.
The creek is narrow enough to read from the bank. Watch for rising fish and approach from a distance before making a cast. Long leaders of 12 to 15 feet and tippet of 6X or 7X are standard. Anything heavier will result in refusals in the slow, clear water.
PMDs hatch mid-morning from June through August. Trico spinner falls happen at dawn and can be over by 9 AM. Callibaetis hatches appear through the summer in the slower sections. BWOs provide reliable spring and fall fishing when the late season slows.
See the full Idaho Fly Hatch Chart for hatch timing across all of Idaho's top trout streams.
Check Conditions Near Silver CreekWhat to Fish
PMDs hatch mid-morning on Silver Creek from June through August. The flat, clear water allows trout to inspect every fly carefully. Use a well-tied Comparadun or CDC Dun in size 16 or 18 and fish it without any drag. The fish here are highly selective and will refuse a fly that is one size off or lands with any disturbance.
Recommended: #16-18 Comparadun, CDC Dun
Trico spinner falls on Silver Creek happen early. Be on the water before sunrise from July through September. The falls can be heavy and the trout rise freely but to tiny size 24 or smaller patterns. 7X tippet is common. The window closes fast as the sun gets on the water.
Recommended: #22-26 Trico Spinner
Callibaetis mayflies hatch through the summer months on Silver Creek, particularly in the slower sections near the preserve. They provide a welcome break from the tiny flies of Trico and PMD fishing. A size 14 or 16 Comparadun in a gray-tan color is the standard pattern.
Recommended: #14-16 Comparadun
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