Flow out of Palisades Dam was dropped to 7200 cfs on 9/20. Flow at Lorenzo is now about 3500 cfs. This makes for more walk-in wade opportunities. Hopper-dropper combinations seem to work OK the lower river, but streamer fishing has been good up and down the river. Somber patterns ( black, dark olive, brown) seem most effective. Don’t expect BWOs and mahoganies to provide good dry fly fishing until we get some really stormy weather.
We have a most unusual small stream in our area that can offer most interesting fishing. That stream is Red Rock Creek in Montana’s Centennial Valley, just west of Henry’s Lake. What makes it so interesting is its grayling population, among which are a few individuals approaching eighteen inches in length. These fish can be difficult, however, but when found in a feeding mood provide perhaps amongst our rarest of fly-fishing treats. Right now their season in the creek is winding down, so they are retreating downstream to upper Red Rock Lake. They however can take caddis life cycle patterns (#12-18) and small ( nothing bigger than #10, 2x long hooks is advised) terrestrial patterns if in a feeding mode. If you are lucky enough to encounter then release one, be sure to handle it gently and quickly. That is because these unusually beautiful salmonids are in danger of diminishing. By the way, Odell Creek, further to the west, slightly smaller, and ending in Lower Red Rock Lake also hosts these living gems.
Fishing sure has slowed down up & down the river. Best results, if you can call it such, seems to be for those fly-fishers presenting hopper-dropper ( bead head nymphs of choice) combinations in the canyon stretch. Flow out of Palisades has been constant for about ten days at around 8100-8500 cfs. Lower flows are coming, but what is really needed to bring on the BWOs and mahoganies is a stretch of cold stormy weather, and for now none of this is in weather forecasts.
Flow out of Palisades Dam remains constant at about 8500 cfs. For some set of reasons riffle fishing on the upper river has slowed, but presenting hopper patterns in close to vegetated banks remains effective, especially on the lower river. Flows below the Big Feeder are around 5600 cfs ( just about normal for this time of year), so downstream of Heise is best water for finding action. For sure some stormy weather would help bring on the BWO activity everyone is waiting for!
River flow is slightly higher than average for this time of year: 4530 cfs at Shelly, where 3840 cfs is normal flow there. Nevertheless this begins the time to present streamers for browns beginning to migrate and foraging rainbows. Doing so via boating on this river is more effective than walk-in wade fishing. You will likely encounter fewer boats than on the South Fork or on the lower Henry’s Fork. Low light conditions will be best for this, meaning first light or evening. Stormy conditions will be another good time, if we ever have some storms!
No changes in flow out of Palisades Dam in the last several days. Presenting hopper patterns from the old Joe’s Hopper to current chernobyl types is best way for dry fly fishing success all along the river. Any day now BWOs will become important. Bad weather would bring them on sooner. Try a streamer or two if you find low light conditions.
If you are a dry fly enthusiast, presenting hopper patterns is the way to success especially on any Park meadow stream. Watch the Park weather reports before you venture to the northeast corner. Recent storms have discolored the Lamar River. Slough and Soda Butte Creeks are less likely to discolor, but they too can become quite crowded at or near roadside locations. At the southwest corner of the park you will not find crowded fishing on Fall River Basin streams, and they are unlikely to discolor. AM trico activity compliments the daytime use of hopper and other terrestrial insect patterns there. The Firehole River is cooling off, and BWO life cycle, terrestrial insect, white miller, and soft hackle patterns will work and do so even better during stormy periods. If you are a streamer enthusiast, the Madison River is now hosting run-up browns and ‘bows from Hebgen Lake. Best times to encounter them is during low light periods. Are you looking for a small stream that offers fast action? Try Obsidian Creek or any other stream in the upper Gardner River drainage. Are you looking for the best still water fishing in the Park? Nowhere beats Beula Lake this time of year where small leech, small beadhead nymph and cinnamon caddis patterns bring action.
Daniels Reservoir remains offering the best still water fishing to the south. Try midge patterns deep under an indicator, or small leech patterns in shallow water. If wind muddies shorelines through wave action, present those leech patterns close to the clear-discolored water interface.
Smaller streams are now mostly at base level. That means concentrate fishing efforts on deepest downstream water. Terrestrial insect patterns will be effective, even for days after a killing frost. In the smaller category Bear, Birch, Palisades, and Big Elk Creeks currently offer the best fishing. Larger small streams offering good fishing are the Teton River throughout, lower Blackfoot River (still a bit high with nymphing and presenting streamers best ways to find action), and Warm River (BWO, hopper, and caddis activity).
Flow out of Palisades Dam has been stable for several days at around 8500 cfs. Expect flow to drop further soon. Hopper fishing is great up and down the river, and evening caddis activity continues to attract trout. Some mutant stones are present, but lower water would help their numbers. Mahoganies and BWOs will begin to be important soon as we cool off. The same will apply to streamers presented during low light conditions.