The rivers are finally cooling down to good fishing temperatures with the arrival of some proper fall weather. Water temperatures are staying down in the fifty degree range, and the fishing only gets better as it gets cooler.

The late summer to early fall dry fly fishing has been wonderful, and a welcome relief from the worst of this summer. With frost on the ground, the action on terrestrial patterns wil slow down as many terrestrial insects go dormant for winter. Our usual fall hatches of October caddis, Tricos, BWOs and Hecuba have all been fishing well. Early morning mayfly hatches are reliable as the sun rises. Mahogony and purple haze patterns have been working great. on hotter days the afternoons fish well with larger caddis patterns. In the mid-day lull between hatches, swinging a streamer or running a nymph rig is a reliable alternative. With rain and overcast weather expect less mayflies and more action fishing a caddis, especially late in the afternoon. With the cooling water, larger fish will be feeding actively in the daytime, and you have shots at bigger fish on the dry than you’ll see in the middle of summer.

The nymphing is always consistent. Using an indicator rig, or tightline rig can be an effective way to get fish in the boat when there isn’t a hatch going on. the hopper-dropper rig is a local favorite as the nymph will catch fish when they aren’t eating on the surface, and when they pivot to eating on the surface you’ll have a dry fly ready and presented. Stonefly patterns like a double bead stone, pats rubber legs, or TJ hooker are all great nymphs for indicator rigging, or fishing as a dropper. For tightline fishing and smaller dries, small perdigons and other similar beadhead nymphs are ever-reliable. Swinging or drifting an October caddis pattern nymph is a killer method this time of year as well.

With rain and overcast weather in the near future Streamer fishing is getting good and only getting better. Goldies, Olive Peanut Envys, Double Gonga's and Mini Dungeons have all been productive. On the sunny days running a flashy bug like the Sparkle yummy, kreelex, or skiddish smolt is a smart move to get a reaction out of spooky fish. On the dark, rainy fall days that just look streamer-y, a large dark colored articulate like a dungeon or silk kitty is a killer pick.

North Fork Of The Blackfoot River:

A Drought Closure (fishing prohibited 24 hours) is in effect for the North Fork Blackfoot River from USFS boundary downstream to Highway 200 starting September 10.