Fish Skull has brought out a new product called Sculpin Helmet. We carry the Small and the Large. I recommend the Small size. the Large is really heavy and can not be thrown with a 6 or 7 wt rod very easily. However the large would be awesome on a spinning rod setup.Many possibilities for tying streamers with these little puppies.
Henry’s is fishing about as good as it gets right now. Shallow areas all around the lake are fishing well with basic leech and scud patterns on intermediate lines. Most areas of the lake will produce well this time of year, so there is no reason to crowd others. Give fisherman at least two cast lengths of room to ensure fish will continue to work in the area.
Get up there and take advantage of the great fishing, its not going to last long! Come into the shop and we can show you the best flies to take up with you.
I wanted to feature a new item we have shop that is produced by Patagonia. The R1 fishing Glove.
This is what Patagonia has to say about it.
Cold-weather, formfitting fishing gloves made of smooth-skin neoprene laminated with a plush nylon/polypropylene/spandex lining.
Flows have dropped to 4500 cfs. The fishing is good and bugs are continuing to hatch on the river. Focus you efforts on the riffles and the slow moving water. There are fish sipping Blue Wing Olives in this type of water. October Caddis have also been hatching and the fish are eating them as well. Rubberlegs, beadhead nympyhs have also been producing fish. I would also throw streamers on the cloudy days, on sunny days throw them in the mornings and evenings. The fishing is pretty good right now and the river is not busy at all. This is a great time to fish with little crowds and goo0d fishing.
Migrating browns make for the best streamer fishing here. Best walk-in locations on the Madison River are between from Raynolds Bridge downstream, between Quake and Hebgen lakes, and in the river above Hebgen Lake to the Yellowstone Park boundary. Browns are migrating to spawning areas in the Beaverhead River. Float fishing is the best way to encounter these in the river below Clark Canyon Dam. Wait a few weeks for the peak of brown trout migration into the South Fork of the Madison River.
Except for the Firehole River, it is streamer time! In the Firehole BWO and midge activity is bringing seasonal action. This also goes on in the lower Gibbon River in National Park Meadows, but run-up Hebgen Lake fish make streamer fishing much more attractive there if one wants to encounter large browns and ‘bows. Same can be said for the Madison River in the Park. Browns migrating into the Lewis River Channel from Lewsi and Shoshone lakes are making for some of the best streamer fishing anywhere. It is best to be there early as possible, so consider packing and camping into the Shoshone Lake outlet campground to spend the night and be the first on the river. You will see the best action that way. Other than the Firehole dry fly action and the brown trout runs, Beula Lake offers great action on bluebird days. Small leech and nymph patterns work best. The best location on Bechler River for action is between the Boundary Creek confluence and Rocky Ford. Try big dry attractors. Try the same on Fall River in its meadow reaches.
Water needs to drop for better fishing conditions. Walk-in wade fishing would improve and be safer at lower flows. Nevertheless streamer patterns are taking some large browns and ‘bows, especially in the river below Blackfoot. Float fishing is best way to approach this part of the river.
According to Henry’s Fork Foundation reports, water clarity is improving with suspended fines causing the off-color appearance of the river from Ashton Dam to the confluence with the South Fork. The mud flats exposed in the drained reservoir above the dam do not appear to be eroding into the river—good news! Presenting streamers in the river above the reservoir to the Warm River confluence is a way to attract browns migrating to upstream spawning areas. In Island Park it is time for large trout from the Harriman-Last Chance reach to begin migrating into Box Canyon for the winter. Streamer fishing in the canyon is improving and will continue to do so as we move to the end of the year. Further upstream consider trying streamer patterns in the river below the Big Springs-Henry’s Lake Outlet confluence. The holes known as “The Tubs” there host big trout this time of year. This part of the river also features huge whitefish. They take midge and BWO life cycle patterns, provide great fillets, and turn out great after a stint in your smoker.
With flow out of Mackay Dam at 135 cfs, conditions are ideal for wading. Midge and BWO life cycle patterns are sure to work as are bead head nymphs in small sizes. If weather is nice, don’t overlook trying a beetle or ant pattern.
Cooler weather is turning many of these on. Chesterfield Reservoir seems more consistent, the upper end of Daniels Reservoir is producing as good as anywhere. The same with the upper end of Treasureton Reservoir. Action is good on Twenty-four Mile Reservoir, but responding fish remain small. Sand Creek Ponds are another place to go for action, but be sure the weather is good as the upper half of the gravel/dirt road can be soft after storms. Concentrate on shallower waters where fish come to seek food items. What patterns are taking fish, you ask? Leech patterns in fall colors is the answer. Also midge pupa patterns under indicators and small fly rod jigs are working. Want more specifics? get in touch, or better yet, pay us a visit.