The rivers are finally cooling down to good fishing temperatures with the arrival of some proper fall weather. Water temperatures are staying in the low sixties in the afternoon and getting to the mid fifties at night. We’ll see it continue to cool down and water volume climb as the weather continues to cool.

The late summer to early fall dry fly fishing has been wonderful, and a welcome relief from the worst of this summer. Summer terrestrial patters, ants, hoppers, beetles etc. continue to produce. Though fall hatches of October caddis, Tricos, BWOs and Hecuba have all been fishing well. Early morning mayfly hatches are reliable as the sun rises, and on hot days the afternoons fish well with larger terrestrials and caddis. 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 in the middle of summer.

The nymphing is always consistent. Running a hopper-dropper, 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.

Streamer fishing on the overcast days had been great. Goldies, olive Peanut Envys, or 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. Though as we roll into fall, it is once again time to start throwing massive articulated streamers for trophy browns!

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.