Fishing is really picking up thanks to cooler and longer nights. Concentrate on shallow waters and creek mouths as brookies are moving in big time. Leech patterns in fall colors, mity mites, and scud patterns presented on intermediate lines are the way to go.
Flows out of Mackay Dam are slowly dropping, wading is easier, and fishing is picking up. BWOs, terrestrials, midges and a few tricos are bringing action.
Mahogany duns are appearing late afternoons on the lower river. So are the tiny BWOs (#22-24). No hard frosts yet, so those terrestrial patterns are still effective up & down the river. If you do not have streamers for evenings, better change that right now! Come in to see what we recommend because as we move through the fall months streamers will be the best way to encounter the largest Henry’s Fork trout.
Flow out of Palisades remains steady at around 7100 cfs. Evenings are times for mahogany duns, caddis, terrestrial patterns (also mornings) and streamers (also mornings), and as Tim recommends nymphs are best during daytime hours. However, it’s really time to think strategy changes. BWOs will become the major mayfly, so stock up on life cycle patterns for them. Streamers will become increasingly important as we move through October,and we stock the ones that have a proven effective. It’s going to be a great fall fishing season here, and we will keep up on how it progresses and post right herewhat we learn.
A few Hebgen lake browns & bows are showing up in the Madison River inside the Park. Likewise, browns are beginning to move in the Lewis River system. Best place to find these are in the river between Lewis & Shoshone lakes and at the Lewis Lake outlet. Action on the Firehole River is picking up thanks to cooling waters and BWO and caddisflies. Terrestrrial patterns remain effective on all Fall River Basin streams and on those of the Lamar River drainage at the northeast corner of the Park. The Gallatin River remains a good choice for presenting classic attractor patterns. The fastest action in Park waters can still be found on Beula, Cascade and Riddle lakes. Use small leech and small beadhead nymph patterns for wet flies. Use midge and callibaetis patterns for dry fly action here.
It’s the time of year when action picks up in Elk, Cliff, Hidden and Wade lakes. Gulpers are still active in shallow waters, and big streamers on ultra fast sinking lines might bring a fish of the season from deeper waters. Clark Canyon offers streamer action in deeper waters and repsonses to midge pupa patterns under an indicator in shallows. The Beaverhead River is a bit spotty. Some gulpers remain active in Hebgen and Quake lakes. Streamer fishing is picking up on the Madison River from Slide Inn to Ennis.
Water is being stored in many of these including Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Twin Lakes, and Twenty-Four Mile reservoirs. This bodes well for next year. For all the above waters and for Springfiled as well, leeches in fall colors and midge pupa patterns below indicators are the best way for action. One place we did not have much to report on is Treasureton Reservoir which is still in a recovery mode from the late winter fish kill of two years ago. Next year should be different as Treasureton should return to its record of being a great still water fishery.
Thanks to our great late summer weather, many of these still offer good fishing. The South Fork and Salt River tribs, Robinson and Bitch creeks are some of these. Terrestrial, caddis, and attractor patterns are best. The same applies to Warm River, Teton River, and lower Fall River. Birch Creek trout still respond to terrestrial and BWO patterns. The Portneuf River is low, clear and tougher fishing because water is being stored in Chesterfield Reservoir. There are several other small waters to try. Get in touch with us or drop in to get information on fishing these.
Flow out of Mackay Dam is between 300 & 350 cfs. That’s quite a bit higher than normal, but the river still can be waded with caution. Midges, BWO and terrestrial patterns are the best for top water action. Small bead head nymphs will bring the best action below. Look for the lower flows, cooler temps, and shorter days of October to bring improved fishing.
Streamer fishing is picking up and water flows are dropping. During overcast days look for consistent BWO and midge activity. There are great locations for float fishing. Some we can suggest are: from the power plant above Idaho Falls to the old dog pound, from the Shelley area to Firth, From Firth to Blackfoot, from Tilden Bridge to McTucker. For wading the river is most approachable below Blackfoot where flows are around 1500 cfs. Remember that the Reservation side of the river begins where the Blackfoot River enters. You cannot fish below here, but the far side of the river can be waded inside the high water mark.