We have not received much information on which of the popular area still waters are producing consistently. But the current change in weather should reduce water temperatures in the shallow ponds and lakes where fishing action will improve. On getting such information, we will be able to make meaningful recommendations.
The recent and continuing unsettled weather signals that Hebgen Lake brown and rainbow trout are moving toward the Madison River meaning that they concentrate in the Madison Arm. For now they are on their way into Yellowstone Park and therefore moving into the river between the Highway 191 crossing and the lake where streamer fishing will become increasingly effective. Presenting streamers in the river between Hebgen and Quake Lakes will also become effective as we move into October.
Big news here is that Hebgen Lake browns and rainbows are beginning to move into the Madison River above. So streamer patterns presented on sink tip lines will become increasingly effective here as the season advances to the first weekend in November when the Park fishing season closes. The other happening is that the Firehole River is cooling off to the point that resident trout are not in survival danger on being caught and released. Look for good BWO and caddis activities to attract fish here. The Gibbon River along with Grebe, Wolf, and Ice Lakes have been chemically treated to remove resident rainbow trout and grayling which are to be replaced with grayling themselves. Thus reliable grayling fishing in the park is reduced to Cascade Lake in the Yellowstone River drainage.
More “just what the doctor” conditions are happening here. Water temperatures are dropping from the sixties to the low fifties in degrees F. Some rough weather can be expected for the near future meaning boating should be done with caution. But combining this weather with cooling water means nothing but fishing improvement can happen. For now, try leech patterns around creek mouths. Fish are beginning to move into shallow areas throughout, so consider spending more time on these along such as the north and west shorelines where gold and olive crystals, small fly rod jigs, streamers, peacock leeches and traditional Henry’s Lake patterns will become increasingly effective.
As is happening on the South Fork, BWOs and mahogany duns are showing up and down the river whether in the Last Chance-Harriman section or the lower river. The best fishing on the lower river at present seems to be in the Warm River to Ashton section where streamer fishing is bringing responses from large brown trout as a result of the unsettled weather conditions. Rely on terrestrial insect patterns being effective during sunny days anywhere on the river. Look for streamer fishing to be increasingly effective almost everywhere on the river as we advance into the fall season.
Flow out of Henry’s Lake has been essentially cut in half as storage begins. Thus fish in the Flat Ranch reach move downstream into the Henry’s Fork proper. This will make streamer fishing very effective in “The Tubs” area, especially early and late in the day. Some of the largest Henry’s Fork whitefish populate this part of the river. If you are looking to supply fish for the smoker, midge and BWO life cycle patterns really interest these salmonids residing here in good numbers.
Current weather is “just what the doctor ordered” for increasing fishing success on the South Fork. Back this up with decreasing flows out of Palisades Dam (currently just under 7700 cfs and sure to drop further as the water storage season begins), and fishing in the near future here looks great. BWOs in good numbers are coming out in the riffles with mahogany duns beginning to show in places. Be sure to have life cycle patterns for each in that fly box. When periods of good sunshine happen, go back to presenting your favorite hopper pattern back to the vegetated banks and be sure to trail that pattern with a small bead head nymph. We could not ask for better conditions for presenting streamers because of increased low light conditions brought on by unsettled weather looking to last into next week. So whether you fish from a boat or wade, the South Fork could now be offering some of the best fishing this season.
A taste of fall weather will be in our area for the rest of the week, and with respect to fishing the South Fork it could signal some changes. One change is the beginning of the fall mayfly emergence cycle meaning the appearance of BWOs and mahogany duns in numbers big enough to interest resident trout. At the same time PMDs and pink alberts will begin a decline in numbers. But until a killing frost wipes out land based bugs, any fly pattern looking like a terrestrial insect will be effective in interesting trout. The other change that will gradually take place is the increased effectiveness in time of streamers in luring larger trout. So consider going to the tying vise to crank out patterns appropriate for fishing during the upcoming change in season.
As with the South Fork, significant BWO and mahogany dun hatches on the lower river will happen later in this month. During daytime visits here presenting terrestrial insect patterns is the best way to attract fish. While fishing from a boat, trail that hopper pattern with a favorite bead head nymph. And as with evening visits to the South Fork, observe shallow waters for bait fish concentrations. Such a presence is a clue that streamer patterns will attract larger fish moving in around sunset to forage on these. The Last Chance-Harriman section of the river features AM trico and speckled dun spinner falls, while daytime success is best met through presenting terrestrial insect patterns. While fishing during late evenings, consider drifting a hair mouse pattern along vegetated banks. You may not interest many fish, but the one(s) you do will surely be very large. On doing so, you can get away with using a heavier tippet making it a bit easier to play that big fish entering the now copious weed beds present in the river. It is the time of year when good fishing in the Henry’s Lake Outlet section begins to fade. Even though flow out of Henry’s Lake remains a bit above 100 cfs, warm water temperatures are present. This means larger fish will begin migrating downstream to cooler water in the Henry’s Fork just below Big Springs. Many fly-fishers overlook the river between the Big Springs-Henry’s Lake Outlet confluence and below because of the numbers of recreational boaters. An evening visit to this stretch of water avoids conflicts with these folks and increases your chances that a well-placed streamer will bring up a very large resident trout.
It is the time of year when many of our small tributary streams are at or approaching base level flows. This reduces overhead cover, so combined with warm late summer and early autumn daytime temperatures, many resident trout begin moving downstream to larger waters which provide better overhead cover and cooler temperatures. This does not impact our “larger” small streams, such as Big Lost, Blackfoot, Fall, Teton and Warm Rivers as well as Birch, Bitch, Little Lost, Medicine Lodge and the larger South Fork-Palisades Reservoir tributaries. Such as Burns, Robinson, Jackknife, Lanes, Rock, and Tincup Creeks are among those seeing this migration. Thus, if you enjoy streams such as these, the best of what their smaller reaches offer with respect to fishing action will diminish as we advance into autumn.
Stable flow out of Palisades Dam (around 9000 cfs) helps keep fishing success stay relatively constant. It’s a bit early in the month for BWOs and mahoganies to be important, so continue presenting bead head nymphs of choice in riffles until rise forms from PMDs and alberts appear in good numbers meaning emerger and dun patterns will become effective. Pitch hopper-dropper combos from boats back toward vegetated banks. While wading around shallows later in the day, look for baitfish concentrating there. This is a tip-off that larger trout will forage on these as sunlight leaves the river. Thus if you are on the river during evenings, streamer patterns become effective when presented near shallows as the sun sets. Patterns in somber colors (olives, browns, and ultra-violet end of the spectrum shades) are best this time of year.
The Jackson Hole One Fly Contest is ongoing along the river. No more than eight boats per section will be participating. So crowding is not an issue. This great event deserves support from all fly-fishers. Go to the Jackson Hole One Fly Contest web site to see details on organization, schedule, and purpose.