Brown Trout are migrating to the Madison River above Quake Lake. Streamer patterns prevail for the best of luck. It is winter fishing conditions, but can be quite crowded. A less crowded choice is the South Fork of the Madison River estuary above Lonesomehurst campground. Not as many browns in that run, but they, too, run to trophy size.
Flow out of Palisades Dam will drop to winter level soon. Right now gages show about 1890 cfs at Irwin, 2600 cfs at Heise and 1000 cfs at Lorenzo. These can make hazardous levels for boating and such will be the case through the winter. Trout will concentrate in deeper water and have their toughest survival times until run-off season. Diminishing BWO activity is going on throughout the river making midge activity providing more of top water action. So begins the season for favoring such as streamer, rubber leg and jig patterns for interesting action. Consider harvesting trout and whitefish trapped in canals that are shut off from the river.
Flies to fish:
Flow out of Island Park Dam is about 170 cfs. Plans are to increase it to higher levels during the winter which is good news for juvenile fish down to Pinehaven. The best streamer fishing on the upper river can be found in Box Canyon and in the Tubs. In the lower river afternoon BWO activity and evening midge activity provides some action, but presenting streamer patterns of choice to migrating brown trout offers the most exciting action.
Flies to fish:
Flow below American Falls Dam is about 288 cfs making for easy access but tough on fish. The Pipeline and Monument locations will see a lot fewer anglers than just below the dam. Above the reservoir flow is near normal throughout, and brown trout are providing good streamer fishing.
Flies to fish:
Look for details on Idaho Fish and Game’s Press Releases web site. To offer some catch rate info; 11 hours per fish is average above the Lemhi River confluence, and below the North Fork confluence catch rate varies from 13-19 hours per fish depending on location.
Flies to fish:
Idaho Fish and Game’s Press Releases web site has some interesting information on walleye introduction in State waters. Most of this information applies to waters away from eastern Idaho (Only Oneida Reservoir on the Bear River has a good legal walleye population). However illegally introduced walleyes are being caught in Ririe Reservoir. Idaho Fish and Game offers that they make great table fare!
Flow out of Palisades Reservoir was dropped to around 4000 cfs yesterday ( about 4700 cfs at Heise, 250 cfs at Lorenzo) and is sure to go lower as normal flow at Irwin for this time of the year is about 3000 cfs. These low flows concentrate fish into deeper holes and runs and make presenting wet patterns of all sizes (midge pupa patterns up to large streamer, rubber leg, and wooly bugger types) more productive and make walk-in-wade locations numerous to the “nth degree.”
For hard sided boats especially, this low flow creates hazards not seen earlier in the season. Sub-surface structure is much closer to the surface and thus can cause damage that can range up to catastrophic. Channels that were once well connected to the main stem can now be cut off making for back tracking to the extreme which can ruin a good day on the water.
Nevertheless, the river still offers good fishing and more tranquility compared to the more hectic days of summer. Afternoon hours can be comfortable and contain good activity from foraging fish. BWOs remain active during these hours; all that is needed is to find them (places with minimal sunlight). Wet fly fishing can be successful regardless of the weather.
Flies to try:
Flow throughout the river is a bit below normal, except even lower through Box Canyon where flow depends equally water incoming from the Buffalo River and from Island Park Dam until ground water supplements it downstream. Weeds are breaking up and whether drifting or still anchored to the bottom can impact fishing. That weeds are leaving reduces water level. Brown trout are migrating on the lower river making for good streamer fishing early and late during sunlight hours. BWO are active throughout the river during afternoon hours and a return to warmer afternoon will revive terrestrial insect activity. Want to present streamer patterns in an “off the beaten path location?” try streamers using a sink tip line in The Tubs just below the Henry’s Lake Outlet and Big Springs Outlet confluence.
Flies to try:
The recent spell of stormy weather is just what is needed to bring good autumn fishing to the lake. Streamer, medium sized wooly bugger, fly rod jig, and wet flies suspended under an indicator will all become productive. The State Park offers shoreline fishing as well as good launch facilities, and the Bill Fromm County boat dock does the same. Watch the weather!
Flies to try:
Flow in the river above American Falls Reservoir to the Henry’s Fork confluence is a bit high as canal water returns to the river with the irrigation season winding down. Even so, good streamer fishing continues in the river. Fly fishers are encouraged to salvage fish trapped in water remaining in canals before drying up. So consider putting Catch and Release aside on these places and make use of trapped fish rather than not. Food banks will take them if you prefer not to turn them into table fare.
Flow out of American Falls Reservoir has been reduced to just under 900 cfs. This action makes walk-in-wade locations numerous, but the closer one visits below the dam the more crowded with anglers of all kinds happens. Streamer fishing is most productive here especially when clear water prevails.
Flies to try: