Flow throughout the river has been essentially constant for at least a week. Good weather for BWO and mahogany dun activity should continue through this weekend. During sunny, warmer days don’t overlook trying a grasshopper pattern with or without a dropper
No significant flow change in the river recently. Fishing seems to have slowed, but look for an increase in BWO and mahogany dun activity if the predicted unsettled weather happens in a few days. If that change happens, look for streamer fishing success to also improve. Enjoy the fall colors!
Fly fishing on the Firehole River above the falls is turning on with the cooling weather. White Miller, other caddis and BWO activities are bring fish up to feed. So bring life cycle patterns, including soft hackle versions, for these insects
Killing frosts will soon nip terrestrial insect populations on Fall River Basin meadow streams and others such as Slough and Duck Creeks. So consider a visit to these before cold weather sets in.
Otherwise, the big attraction to fly fishers are the brown trout migrations in the Madison and Snake River drainages. Presenting streamer patterns is the name of the game on these waters, and enthusiasts seeking a “fish of the year” will become numerous. So be prepared to share choice locations
Water is still quite warm for the time of the season, but unsettled weather later this week will help the cooling process which is needed to get trout to distribute around the lake. Creek mouths still offer some of the best fishing
Perhaps the best news concerning Henry’s Lake is the recent purchase of 634 acres of land platted for subdivision, including some along Howard Creek by the Beartooth Group and the Nature Conservancy. This action will prevent loss of some critical wildlife habitat, wildlife migration corridors, and alteration of Howard Creek an important cutthroat trout spawning tributary for Henry’s Lake. Details of this action can be viewed on The Nature Conservancy’s web site Idaho page.
Look for fishing to improve, especially because of BWO and mahogany dun activity later this week, as unsettled weather is in the forecast. Streamer fishing will be picking up almost everywhere along the river. Box Canyon, the lower river and the Tubs in particular, should be some of the best locations for trying streamers. Mid afternoons should offer the best fishing in response to terrestrial insect activity.
Headlines: from Dr. Rob Van Kirk’s Henry’s Fork drainage water status report from yesterday follow.
Rob Van Kirk, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
P.O. Box 550
Ashton, ID 83420
208-881-3407 CELL
208-652-3568 FAX
The Box Canyon remains a good choice with streamer and rubber leg patterns being effective. Submerged weeds are breaking here and on downstream through the Harrriman Park reach. On warmer days, until a killing frost arrives, hopper, patterns with and without a dropper as well as those for beetles and ants are effective anywhere on the river. The best happening on the lower river is the cooling weather. Because of it, trout are responding there to BWO and mahogany dun activity in a better measure, with streamer patterns being effective during low light conditions.
Most of our tributary streams are down to base levels meaning fish are moving to larger waters to seek better overhead cover. However, some of the larger streams, not impacted by irrigation draw down, are good choices to visit.
The Teton River remains in great condition, and recreational floater numbers on the river in the basin are down. BWO, caddis and mahogany duns are active especially during overcast conditions. Fish are responding to these, and this is taking place along the entire river. Terrestrial insect will be active during warm days until a killing frost takes place.
Lower Teton River
Warm River also offers good fishing from Warm River Spring down to the cascades and on through the lower river with BWO, caddis, and, on warm er days, terrestrial insect activity.
The Buffalo River offers excellent BWO activity and easy wading around the campground reach..
The cooling weather with early morning air temperatures beginning to drop below freezing is just what is needed to bring fish out of the depths to distribute around the lake. Weeds are beginning to break up, the lake is at about 80% of capacity, and out flow has been cut back to around 25 cfs.
From Top of Squaw Creek Dugway
No significant change in flows since our last report. There are fewer folks fishing even though lower flow means increased wading locations. Foliage color change is coming on strong. So it is a great time to visit the river even though dry fly fishing success is a bit sporadic ( BWO and mahogany dun activity is best during cloudier days). Mutant golden stone flies are pretty much a thing of the past for this season but hopper-dropper presentations towards vegetated banks still works well. Presenting streamer patterns will become increasingly effective as we advance into the fall season.
Browns and rainbows are losing interest in being Hebgen Lake gulpers to staging around tributaries for the fall spawning run. Soon it will be a contest on the Madison as to whether there are more fish than fly fishers present as the fall spawning run has begun. The more numerous spawning run of Lewis River brown trout into the channel between Shoshone and Lewis Lake and below Lewis Lake is also beginning. So presenting streamer patterns of various types is becoming the name of the game on these Park waters.
With cooling weather, look for fishing on the Firehole River to improve much to the delight of top water fly fishers using BWO, white miller and soft hackled patterns.
Plenty of terrestrial insects remain in the meadow reaches of Fall River Basin streams, and this will be the case until a killing frost occurs. Waters here are at base level and ultra clear, so a studied approach with essentially no wading is required for success.