Flow throughout the river has been constant for about a week ( about 2800 cfs out of Palisades Dam). With high quality water and great dissolved oxygen concentrations, fish activity will be good. Mahogany duns, BWO and midges continue to make for good top water fishing. Streamers, fly rod jigs, woolly buggers and rubber leg patterns are good choices for fishing deep. The more frosty mornings that happen, the fewer terrestrial insects will be around.
A day, like today, with overcast skies and minimal wind is ideal this time of year for good fishing. Decreasing water temps, good overhead cover, and excellent dissolved oxygen make for active salmonids. Terrestrial insects may be inactive, but midges, all day, and PM BWOs mean active fish throughout the river. Brown trout are migrating to spawning areas and streamer patterns will be the best way to encounter them. Rainbow trout will follow to pick off drifting eggs which means easy protein.
The Lewis River brown trout run will soon be approaching its peak during the Park fishing season ( the peak in numbers happens in November after the Park fishing season closes). Presenting streamer patterns is the name of the game. It takes a bit of effort to enjoy the river’s best fish concentration: in the channel between Lewis and Shoshone Lakes. But the river below Lewis Lake requires less effort to approach, and has a good concentration of migrating browns. In either case, leave occupied redds alone. Also, be aware, that the later these runs are pursued, the worse the weather can become. See the above photo taken at the Shoshone Lake outlet campground when the weather was BAD, but fishing was GREAT!
The Firehole River now offers its best fall fishing. Try swinging soft hackled patterns into areas of rising fish or drifting small (#20-22) BWO patterns, drift free, to rising fish.
No big changes since our last report. Even flows remain much the same. Palisades Reservoir is about 56% full with water storage by USBR beginning. Unsettled weather expected for the rest of the week should enhance top water fishing success and responses to streamer patterns presented to aggressive brown trout anywhere on the river. Better get out to enjoy what is left of the Fall colors: they won’t last much longer!
Headlines from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s Henry’s Fork Drainage Water Status Report Filed Yesterday, October 9th
Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
P.O. Box 550
Ashton, ID 83420
208-881-3407 CELL
208-652-3568 FAX
With unsettled weather the next few days, look for good fishing results throughout the day whether your choice may be top water and near such because of fish responding to midge, BWO or mahogany dun activity or through presenting streamer patterns to browns migrating in the river below Surprise Falls ( that six foot dip in the river below Lower Mesa Falls ).
Big Lost River Near Leslie Area
Flow out of Mackay Dam is around 200 cfs just below which is just a bit above normal (about 180 cfs) for this time of the year and making for good wading conditions. With flow being good (about 160 cfs) downstream at least as far as the Leslie area, it is worth considering trying to access the river this far below the dam. This good flow so far below the dam has not happened for several years and opens up some very good waters least temporarily with winter and the water storage season coming on.
Park brown trout runs are in progress with respect to numbers, and the same goes for rainbow trout moving out of Hebgen Reservoir going upstream in the Madison River . Currently the major runs are in the Madison and Lewis Rivers with the run into the Snake River near the south entrance and the Gardner River runs following.
Lewis River channel on a blue bird October day
That blue bird day can change instantly! So be weather-wise.
The most numerous of these events, and least attended by fly fishers and anglers, is the Lewis River run between Lewis and Shoshone Lakes, and the best way to enjoy it is to camp at the outlet campground on Shoshone Lake in order to fish the river in the early AM before anglers crossing Lewis Lake arrive. If choosing to do so, be sure to determine the weather during camping,as this time of year can bring significant changes (see above photos).
If chasing brown trout is not your fly fishing preference, the Firehole River retains its excellent top water and near top water fly fishing situations. BWO, midge and white miller activities are the reasons.
Well-fed rainbow from the Tubs area
With less daylight and cooler air temperatures, aquatic vegetation is breaking up along the entire river. It can be a nuisance when drifting veggies impact the course of your drifting fly pattern, but it makes for less places for fish diving into weed beds on trying to escape from that fly they have taken. BWO, and mahogany dun life cycle, honey ant, and smaller hopper patterns make up the best top water patterns anywhere on the river. Try double nymph nymph rigs, fly rod jigs and streamer patterns in deeper water such as in Box Canyon, the Tubs and just below Coffee Pot rapids. Unsettled weather is coming up around mid week, so all these technique suggestions should be appropriate.
Significant reduction of flow out of Palisades Dam will soon hit the river down to American Falls Reservoir. Brown trout migration is ongoing, so lower flows coming up will mean they will be more easily approached while moving. Look for lower flows in the river below American Falls dam as the reservoir is down to 19% of capacity, and water storage must soon begin.
Flow has leveled out at a bit more than 200 cfs below the dam. This means good wading conditions, and good BWO and midge activity making their life cycle patterns effective. Streamers and woolly bugger types in moderate sizes swung through deeper water will bring results, especially early and later in the day and during upcoming unsettled weather. Repairs are ongoing to the dam above, and completion will begin water storage with more drops in flow below. The reservoir above is reduced mostly to a mud flat with a few fish in the pool just above the dam. So most attractive fishing is in the river above and below.