Brown trout runs in Gibbon, Madison and Lewis Rivers are in full swing. The same can be said of fly fishers accompanying them. The same will take place soon on the Gardner and Snake Rivers. Sales of streamer patterns and materials to tie them are sky high in regional fly shops.
With respect to BWO and mahogany dun activity and steamer presentation on the lower river, what applies to the South Fork applies here. Wind can diminish the mayfly activity, but unsettled conditions do not hurt streamer fishing. Flow throughout is a bit below average for the time of year.
The river helps the BWO and mahogany dun activity by having a near constant flow ( 6050 cfs at Irwin, 6700 cfs at Heise, 3550 cfs at Lorenzo) of clear, cool water for several days, but it looks like a drop in flow out of Palisades is coming up. Everything these unsettled days works in favor of mayfly activity except for the WIND, that is, and lately it has been fierce during afternoons when they should be most active. So expect slower action when wind comes up. But that is not the case with streamers. Bad weather usually means they are effective because of increased overhead cover. So continue taking BWO and mahogany dun life cycle and streamer patterns and the gear to present them during the fall season.
Water is quite low at Daniels, but fishing is good with fish responding to midge pupa under an indicator and slowly trolled leech patterns. The cooler weather predicted for the next week is just what is needed to improve fishing at such as Chesterfield and Treasureton Reservoirs and at Sand Creek Ponds.
Whether you walk-in or fish from a boat this is the time of year to encounter brown trout on the river anywhere above American Falls Reservoir. Streamer fishing is the name of the game and there are many locations along the river to do so. Below the reservoir the river is discolored and lower than normal for the time of year. The reservoir has been dropped for work on the spillway ( now completed), but the fishing is good. Fish streamers deep.
We hear fishing is picking up on the lake especially the west side. Stick to water less than 10 feet deep and use an intermediate line. Use caution because a storm is coming in this weekend and unsettled weather is in store for early next week.
With the river so low below Island Park Dam (135 cfs today), it is time to pitch streamers into the big Box Canyon holes where fish will concentrate. Look for weeds braking up along the Last Chance-Harriman reach and fish responding to BWOs and what is left of early AM tricos. Hoppers along this part of the river are soon to be things of the past. The lower river now offers better fishing with BWO, mahogany duns, a fading hopper population and best of all browns responding to streamers. Look for streamer fishing to improve with the unsettled weather coming up in the next few days.
Flow is just a bit higher than normal for the time of year: around 6000 cfs at Irwin, 6630 cfs at Heise, 3280 cfs at Lorenzo. Water is crystal clear and cooling. Only sad happening is that fall colors will soon be a thing of the past. Riffle fishing seem to be picking up with BWO and mahogany dun action bringing fish up. Add caddis activity during PM. With a stormy weekend predicted this action may get even better, but do not overlook presenting streamer patterns.
Thinking of trying the Madison River above Hebgen Reservoir for migrating browns and ‘bows? Better get there at first light anywhere on the river because there are more fly-fishers visiting than there are fish moving! Streamers are the name of the game, and the best days are ahead because we are in for a stormy weekend. That stormy weekend will extend the current good fishing on the Firehole River.
We are in “brown trout season” with the Madison and Lewis River systems featuring large, migrating brown trout and the same soon to happen on the Gardner and Snake Rivers. That means streamer presentation. The exception is the Firehole River where the fall season is ongoing. That means BWO life cycle, miller and soft hackle patterns. Watch the weather: it can change to the worst in a hurry!