Thousand Springs Creek Fishing Guides
A spring-fed creek in the upper Big Lost River valley near Chilly, rising from the valley aquifer beneath the Lost River Range and running cold and clear into one of Idaho's least crowded trout drainages.
Guides on the Thousand Springs Creek
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About the Thousand Springs Creek
Thousand Springs Creek rises in the upper Big Lost River valley near Chilly, in the high, dry country between the Lost River Range and the Pioneer Mountains. The name is literal. Water that fell as snow on the surrounding peaks moves down through porous valley fill and emerges as a band of springs on the valley floor, and the creek that forms from them runs cold, clear and remarkably even in volume toward the Big Lost River.
This is a spring creek in the hydrological sense, and the consequences are the ones a trout angler would hope for. Flow holds steady while the freestone tributaries around it spike with snowmelt and then shrink through August. Temperature stays cold through summer and moderate through winter. The bed grows weed and supports heavy populations of scuds and midges, and the trout that live on them are in better condition than the harsh valley climate would suggest.
The setting is genuinely remote. The Big Lost valley is high, open sagebrush country with the Lost River Range standing over it, including Borah Peak, the highest point in Idaho. Fishing pressure is light compared with Idaho’s celebrated rivers, and a good deal of the appeal here is the quiet, and an angler can spend a day in the valley without seeing another rod.
Rainbow trout are the primary fishery, brook trout occupy the smaller and colder water, and mountain whitefish are present in the larger reaches. Bull trout occur in the Big Lost system and are protected, so anglers need to know the current rules before fishing.
Access involves ranch land and public ground mixed together along the valley, so checking boundaries and current regulations before going is necessary rather than optional, and asking permission at the ranch house remains the surest way to reach the best water.
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Access
Mackay - the nearest town down the valley, with lodging, fuel and basic services.
Chilly - the small valley community at the gauge.
Big Lost River - the mainstem the creek feeds, with its own wild trout fishery.
Mackay Reservoir - the impoundment downstream, with ramps and camping.
Challis-Salmon National Forest - public land on both valley walls.
Borah Peak trailhead - the access to Idaho's highest summit east of the valley.
Sun Valley and Ketchum - the resort towns southwest, with fly shops and guides.
Seasons
Spring: steady spring flows fish well while nearby freestone water is high and off colour.
Summer: the coldest and most reliable window, with scuds, midges and terrestrials all working.
Fall: excellent fishing in cooling weather, with very little company on the water.
Winter: hard valley cold limits access, though spring sources keep some water open.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Thousand Springs Creek?
As of Oct 18, 5:00 pm, the USGS gauge THOUSAND SPRINGS CREEK NR CHILLY ID reads 5 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Thousand Springs Creek?
Anglers target Brook Trout, Bull Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout on the Thousand Springs Creek in Idaho.
Where can you access the Thousand Springs Creek?
Mackay - the nearest town down the valley, with lodging, fuel and basic services. Chilly - the small valley community at the gauge. Big Lost River - the mainstem the creek feeds, with its own wild trout fishery. Mackay Reservoir - the impoundment downstream, with ramps and camping. Challis-Salmon National Forest - public land on both valley walls. Borah Peak trailhead - the access to Idaho's highest summit east of the valley. Sun Valley and Ketchum - the resort towns southwest, with fly shops and guides.
When is the best time to fish the Thousand Springs Creek?
Spring: steady spring flows fish well while nearby freestone water is high and off colour. Summer: the coldest and most reliable window, with scuds, midges and terrestrials all working. Fall: excellent fishing in cooling weather, with very little company on the water. Winter: hard valley cold limits access, though spring sources keep some water open.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Thousand Springs Creek?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Idaho agency site: https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish