The Bitterroot River is still running extremely low, with only a couple of the middle and lower floats accessible.

As we enter into October, fall rains and cool nights have helped with water temperatures significantly. Hovering between the low 60s and high 50s, trout are starting to behave much happier and are eager to eat. Hopefully, with some rainfall, we'll see a solid rise in river height, and the brown trout will have a place to go for spawning.

The Bitterroot is in the middle of this fisherman’s favorite dry fly season, with October Caddis and Mahogany Duns coming off in droves. Classic calf-tail Mahogany Duns and a Purple Haze are the flies of choice, with smaller hook sizes seeming to work best. Skating a foam October Caddis in a back eddy is also a great way to mix up traditional dry fly fishing and still see results.

Nymphs are performing great as well, with TJ Hookers and jigged Pheasant Tails working exceptionally well. Black and tan — or orange — Pat's Rubber Legs have also been producing consistently. As the temperature continues to drop, be aware that these fish will be keying into smaller and smaller hook sizes.

Of course, what's fall fishing without streamers? The streamer bite is just starting to get aggressive in the surrounding rivers, with the Bitterroot being no exception. Whitefish are starting to take on their spawn colors, with bright golds, reds, and, of course, white being the colors of choice. Bangtails, Laser Legals, and Dungeons are all great choices for the Bitterroot this time of year.