Fish Species at Boxwood Gulch / Long Meadow
Boxwood Gulch offers several species of trout for the angler
who enjoys a mixed bag or perhaps hasn't experienced the pleasure of
fighting a certain trout breed before.
Tactics for each of our species varies from midging for super
selective rainbows, to streamer fishing for monster browns.
Boxwood Gulches population is made up of over 1500 fish on 1 mile of
water with trout ranging from 12 inch brookies to 30 inch bows
and browns - 50% rainbows, 30% browns, 20% cutbows, snake river cutthroats, brookies, and the elusive palomino
rainbow.
Boxwood Bows- Highly successful spawns in
recent years have increased the numbers of young fish which subsequently brought
the average size down from 19" to 17", but has increased anglers catches
from 15 to 20+ fish per angler.
Always in tune to the surface, Boxwood bows start rising in
March and are still taking hoppers and attractor patterns well into October.
BIG BOWS? One only has to glance at the big fish board in
Boxwoods clubhouse to see countless photos of elated anglers holding fish of 24
and 28" to see what awaits them among the riffles and runs of Boxwood Gulch.
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Boxwood Browns- Aggressive, wary, and stout best describes the
browns that average 18" and are full of color and fight. The fisher that
likes to swing a bugger in pocket water or skate a mouse pattern across a deep
run will find him or herself targeting this species simply because of the rod
jarring strikes. Bigger browns of the 2 foot caliber are evening
predators, and are usually taken on large streamers like sculpins or string
leeches as twighlight begins to shroud overhanging willows where the ambush by a
monster brown is usually the big fish of the day.
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Snake River Cutthroat- Sometimes referred to as Salmo inaccessablis, this trout is
usually taken in tight water after careful stalking and the perfect cast. Known to
reach 28" in length at Boxwood, this species can be both a joy to hook, or very
humbling after countless refusals of the anglers offerings.
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Cutbows- POWER, HEAVY, LINE BREAKERS. Easy to recognize immediatly after the hook
set because of their leaping ability and speed. This fish rarely reaches 22" in length,
but boasts the biggest girth of all Boxwood trout. With a distinct love for LARGE flies,
the Cutbow is the first to knock a mouse pattern off the water in early summer or smack
a hopper with reckless abandon.
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Brookies- The first to look to the surface in early spring, this species is always
an unexpected delight. Averaging 14" with some males reaching 17", they start to dress in
spectacular colors in mid-September in preparation for the fall spawning ritual.
Fly selection- Better bring a few Royal Wulffs.
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Palomino Rainbow- The elusive Palomino is Boxwoods toughest fish to catch. Because
of their unusual coloration this species has had to develop it's senses to the highest degree
simply to survive bird predation from Ospreys, Eagles, and Kingfishers. Advice from your guide
on taking one of these is usually two words. GOOD LUCK!
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