This is the place to be if you enjoy presenting streamers. With flows dropping to low levels and the abundance of low light conditions, ‘bows and migrating borwns are active during daytime. Rely on your favorite patterns and streamer tip lines. There are several great walk-in locations along the river from Idaho Falls to American Falls Reservoir. Come in and visit us to learn the best of these.
Chesterfield, Daniels, and Springfield reservoirs are the best of these. All are fishing very well. Midge life cycle, scud, streamer and woolly bugger patterns produce on each. Getting to Daniels Res. from the north may become difficult soon as the Dairy Creek road going southwest from Hawkins Reservoir traverses some high country. There is some fishing left in Hawkins Res. close to the dam. Try woolly bugger types.
Brown trout are migrating to spawning areas from Warm River on downstream. Please consider avoiding their redds as walking through them crushes fertilized eggs reducing spawning success. Presenting streamer patterns in the waters through which they migrate to spawn is a great way to encounter them. If you prefer to fish closer to the surface midge and BWO activity is ongoing on most of the river.
It appears that there are more fish in the river this year than the same time last year. As we move through November waters are cooling, and fish are lying deeper in the river.
The season is over on many of these streams as their waters drop and cool. For some, road conditions make access not possible. The lower Teton River, the lower Fall River and parts of the Blackfoot River above the reservoir remain fishable. Midge & BWO life cycle patterns, small streamers and woolly bugger types and bead head nymphs are the best fly choices.
The Madison River is offering great streamer and nymph fishing. This is the case whether you try the stretch below highway 191, between Hebgen and Quake lakes or the river below Slide Inn. Watch the weather before you go because roads can be tough.
Fish are in shallow water all around the lake, and fishing ranges from good to excellent depending on location and weather. Leech and streamer patterns on intermediate lines are the trick, but watch the weather because roads getting there can be tricky.
If you don’t mind unsettled weather, the river below Mackay Dam is a place for some great action because of BWO and midge activity. Flows out of the dam are just above 50 cfs. Low flows like this concentrates fish in deeper runs & holes, so active fish are easy to find. But they are up for a tough go all winter, so treat ’em gently.
Streamer fishing is going great guns on the lower river, especially during stormy and low light conditions. Sink-tip lines are the best way to present. Decreasing flows are making for many locations that are easily waded. It’s getting cold out there, so dress accordingly!
Flow out of Palisades Dam is down to 1020 cfs. At Heise flow is around 1600 cfs. All this makes for great walk-in fishing, but restricts fish to much less of the river as many side channels have dried up. Nevertheless some great streamer fishing remains up and down the river. With more storms coming in good streamer fishing could be a day-long event, and BWOs will provide action for those preferring top water fishing.