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We are into our full-blown autumn hatches these days. Be sure you have all the right bugs in the coming days and weeks. The fall is a great time to fish; the fish turn a little greedier as the water cools and the fish feel winter coming. They know to pack on the calories right now!
Silver Creek hatches are already leaning toward fall bugs. The Mahogany Dun as well as the Fall Baetis are the main hatches on the Creek. There is still some residual Trico, and Callibaetis and Baetis from the summer on the right mornings or afternoons in the right place. The middle of the day is the best fishing. There are still Hoppers out and anglers can always fish Ants and Beetles. With the brown trout on the verge of spawning, now is also a good time to fish streamers during the low-light periods. Be sure you have your October Caddis in the coming weeks, as this bug has put on quite a show over the past two seasons.
The Big Wood hatches in the fall consist of Fall Baetis, Western Red Quills and October Caddis—the latter found mostly north of Ketchum. The Fall Baetis and Red Quills are heat-of-the-day bugs, so no need to get out early. If you do fish early, try Sculpin patterns fished on the swing, and even try drowning a few Grasshopper patterns in the heavy water.
The South Fork of the Boise is in Fall Baetis mode. These can be spectacular hatches on the right day, and they can blanket the water. If you go, start late and fish late. A lot of anglers will head down the canyon and will not see a bug before noon, so they quit for the day. By 1 p.m. the river could be on fire. Fish the South Fork well into the late afternoon.
The lower Lost is a great fall fishery and a wonderful place to catch rainbows on Fall Baetis. This bug is a little bigger on the Lost River and a bit easier to fish than other places. The upper Lost River will also have Fall Baetis and Red Quills. It is a lot of walking this time of the season on the upper Lost, but it can also be really rewarding for those willing to put in the effort.
Happy fishing, everyone!
