Silver Creek is fishing extremely well right now. Baetis (BWOs), Mahogany Duns and October Caddis are the bugs du jour, and the Mahogany and October Caddis shine on breezy days. There’s no need to rush to the Creek, as the activity really gets going during the very late morning and early afternoon. For the Baetis, bugs will be small, with a size 16 being large; most bugs will be in the size range of size 18–22. Mahogany Duns are size 16, and the October Caddis are size 10–14. We have a great selection of all these flies here in the fly shop, so come on in. Callibaetis, hoppers, beetles, and ants remain in play, but are becoming less effective as the nighttime temperatures continue to dip. Please be mindful of spawning brown trout and keep clear of fish on or near active spawning redds. Redds can be identified as oval-shaped depressions in the streambed, which appear “cleaner” and lighter in color. During low light conditions (dawn and dusk), fishing your favorite streamer to the deepest, darkest, juiciest water can produce a trophy brown trout.
The Big Wood River is special in the autumn, and your go-to bugs will be Baetis and the Western Red Quill (Hecuba). Again, Baetis are sized 18–22 and the Western Red Quill is sized 10–14. Again, we have plenty of great flies to represent these insects here at Picabo Angler. Dry-droppers, standard nymph rigs, and streamer fishing are all great ideas on the Big Wood, as well. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different flies rather than always fishing a red Zebra midge dropper.
On the Upper Big Lost River, fish the same way as you’d do on the Big Wood, but don’t get to the water until lunchtime.
The Lower Big Lost River is a Baetis and midge factory during the fall, and the flows are stable and at easy wading levels.
While the Salmon River upstream of Stanley can also fish well, the productive fishing window is closing quickly.
This truly is a special time to fish our local waters, and the recent weather couldn’t be better. Keep in mind that flows are low, so fishing long, light leaders is often necessary, and a stealthy approach is required. Make sure to dress in layers, as mornings and evenings are very cool, and the middle of the day is truly gorgeous. Float-tubing on the Creek for sure requires extra, extra layers.
As always, please feel free to stop in the shop or give us a call for more information.
Happy fishing, everyone!