The weather has changed to a normal late October pattern of cold mornings and cool afternoons. There is still some excellent fishing for our native cutthroat but fishing hours are limited. Most activity is from 2pm to 5pm. Small grey Baetis/BWO mayflies are hatching and bring nice cutts to the top. Small parachutes like Lexi GED, Two Tone BWO and HiVis Adams are good in size 18. Also carry some suspended emergers: Sanchez Split top, Smoke jumpers and Quigley Cripple. Also expect to see
some midges. Flat Creek and the Snake are still great options to fish. Nymphing is very productive - both indicator and Euro style. Perdigon style jig nymphs sink quickly when you are fishing small flies. This is a great time to try Euro nymphing.
We're down to winter flows on Snake which makes it easy to wade. Jenny Lake is also a good option to catch lake trout on flies or lures. Leech patterns and small streamers are productive. Do this before November 1, as the interior park road closes to vehicle travel. Jackson Lake reopens Nov 1st but there are some habitat closures from north of Leeks up to the inlet.
Yellowstone is open just one more week. Look for some nice brown trout when you are up there. Cold temps are good for brown trout but bad for cutthroats. Lewis Lake and River, Madison, Gibbon and Firehole are all good options. Try big nymphs, streamers or eggs. Be careful and avoid walking on redds or fishing to fish on redds. Halloween is the last day to fish or visit Yellowstone Park.
Flows have been stable at 2900 CFS over on the South Fork. Lower water will concentrate fish. Try swinging flies on trout spey for something fun, different and productive. This allows you to thoroughly cover pools and runs with chances for staging
browns and some good size rainbows. Also look for BWOs.
Be sure to stop by our fishing sale through the end of the month! Stock up and get that gear you have been putting off. Buy a dozen get a dozen of equal value! Fishing packs, vest and slingpacks are all 30% off. And select waders and boot models are up to 50% off. No one wants leaky waders when the temps are dropping!
- Scott Sanchez