After several posts about the Pierce Creek culvert removal project it’s appropriate to step back and have a look at the role of these tributaries in the South Fork Boise River fishery.
It would be uncommon — to say the least — that people who fish the SFB go there to fish one of the tributaries. Many anglers may not even know these small streams exist. Some may be attracted unwittingly to the confluence zone of these streams with the SFB to find rising fish, or good holding water provided by structure in the river channel.
Small streams play an important role in the health of a trout fishery.
First, they contain a significant amount of stream length and therefore habitat than may be at first realized. Even a trickle of water can still provide some holding water in small pools for fish, especially those young-of -year. Second, during certain times of the year, such as spring and early summer, the flows in these streams swell and more water can mean more habitat – space for fish to live.
