This is streamer fishing season whether you walk-in wade or float the river. Be more concerned with presentation that with particular pattern selection, except have light colored and dark colored patterns ready to go. Expect to do best during low light conditions, and during daytime concentrate on the heads and tails of deeper water. Flows are still a bit higher than normal, but sure to drop soon.
Fishing in shallow water seems to be good all around the lake. Leech patterns and small streamers presented on slow sinking or intermediate lines work very well. Brookies are stacking up at most creek mouths, so this draws attention from anglers. You can get away from such high attention locations and still catch fish. Try the west shoreline north and south of the county boat dock, the northwest corner, and east of the hatchery. Wherever you go be prepared for wintry weather and slick roads. It’s that time of year.
The lower river features BWOs & midges for top water fishing and streamer fishing for migrating browns and big ‘bows. This cloudy cool weather is just the ticket for both these, and with low flows the river is very approachable to walk-in wading. Box Canyon has the best streamer and nymph fishing on the upper river. The river at Last Chance has a great BWO hatch. Watch the roads, especially early mornings, when you travel through Island Park. Yesterday AM they were very slick just above Ashton Hill and again between Elk Creek and Mack’s Inn.
Chesterfield Reservoir is the star of the show here. You can catch fish in both deep & shallow water with success. Midging (pupa under an indicator at taking depth) and small leech or damselfly nymph patterns all seem to work. More good news is that Springfield Reservoir was stocked about three weeks ago, those fish have equilibrated, and they are hitting small (black) leech patterns and bead head peacock leeches presented on intermediate lines. A midge pupa under an indicator is sure to work. The fish run 16-19 inches, but holdovers are running over twenty inches. Double digit catch days are common. Sand Creek Pond #4 is still producing for those using damselfly nymph patterns. Daniels Reservoir is good fishing, even though water is low enough such that upper end trees are out of water. Damselfly nymph patterns and leeches in fall colors work. Twenty-Four Mile Reservoir remains very low enough such that approaching the water can be tough going through mud.
Browns are moving in the Madison, Red Rock, and Beaverhead rivers. That means streamer fishing.
First of all, come dressed for winter fishing! Stay warm & dry in order to enjoy top water fishing on the Firehole River where BWOs are out in big numbers. In every water that hosts brown trout, streamer fishing is the way to go. In waters without browns, streamers presented in deep waters will bring results from big cutts, brookies and ‘bows seeking forage fish. Fishing season closes the first weekend of November, so not much time is left this year to enjoy waters here.
Many of these are shutting down now. With lower flows and fewer insects available, fish move to bigger waters during winter months where there is better cover and more abundant food. But some good fishing remains. Concentrate your efforts on deeper waters. The lower Blackfoot River has many deeper pockets and holes where a well placed streamer is sure to bring results. The same can be said for the lower Teton River and Robinson Creek. On streams pretty much influenced by springs, good caddis and BWO emergences continue. Examples are Warm River just below Warm River Spring and Birch Creek in the family area.
Flow out of Mackay Dam is at 100 cfs, so walk-in wade fishing is easy. These low flows concentrate fish into deeper waters, so look for fish working at tops and bottoms of deep water to intercept emerging BWOs and midges. Life cycle patterns for both are the way to go.
Above Ashton Reservoir expect lower flows than normal for the rest of the year to help during the Ashton Dam repair project. It appears that the repair project is being conducted in a manner as friendly as possible to the river. Below Ashton Dam flows are closer to normal, browns are migrating to spawning areas, and BWO emergences are in full swing. That makes for some good dry fly fishing and daytime streamer fishing. Try being on the river early & late in the day during cloudy conditions for best results, especially when streamer fishing.
Flows are right where they should be for this time of year, and big browns are migrating to spawning areas, also as they should be. You best be fishing streamers to encounter them. Both float and walk-in wade fishing will be effective. Flows are sure to drop further in the upcoming weeks, so look for some great streamer fishing until ice-up. We can help you choose locations up & down the river. C’mon in and talk to us about “the where to try it” question.