Temperatures have dropped and the snow is flying! Fishing can still be had in the area on nymphs when water and air temps climb into the mid to high 30s. The Snake and the South Fork should be the streams you concentrate on. Yes, most of the fish you will hook into are whitefish (which can be fun, you got to admit) but trout can get into the mix if you hit the right holding water with the right flies and in the right water conditions. Low stream flows this time of year, along with cold water temps, cause trout to pod up heavily in tight pieces of holding water. You will find them primarily in riffles, on flats, and in eddies that have some degree of recirculation. If you spot 'em, cast to them. Midges are the only flies that hatch with frequency this time of year, so think of using double rigs consisting of black Ice Cream Cone Midge Nymphs (size 16 to 18), black brassies (size 16 to 20), black or olive Copper Johns (size 16 to 18) and olive or gray Tungsten Midge Pupa (size 18 to 20). Little black and little brown stone nymphs will be getting active over the next couple of months. You can star targeting trout with solid Capnia imitations like the LBS (size 14 to 16) and Beadhead Pheasant Tails (size 14 to 16). There can a fair amount of action on mysis shrimp imitations on the South Fork (white or gray scuds, Ices Mysis, Boyles Shrimp, Lightening Bugs, and Rainbow Warriors, all in sizes 12 to 16), but for the most part it is midge larva and pupa that will work best.
If temperatures do warm up considerably (high 30s and into the 40s), you can get some activity on streamers. Articulated baitfish patterns like Silveys Sculpin Leech in gray, black or olive, or a Sex Dungeon in olive or natural are large enough, and have enough innate materials action, to aggravate even the most lethargic of trout. Strip these on a floating or intermediate line through podding fish and see what happens.
Other Waters
We don't mean to be too broad here, but there are a lot of waters that are in their prime at this time of year. Many of our guides and shop staff have returned from their annual autumn steelhead trips or guiding gigs, but some are staying out there to hit water that is still very much productive. Idaho's Clearwater and Salmon rivers still have a lot of action. In Oregon, December through January are can be good on the lower Rogue and the Umpqua rivers.
And of course, everyone will soon have saltwater on their mind. In December, the two destinations that come to mind are Baja for Roosterfish, snook, and dorado, and the Bahamas for bonefish. You also have warmwater destinations like the Amazon for Peacock Bass and Rio de la Plata for golden dorado. If you are in the Jackson Hole area, drop into Snake River Angler to get more info on these fishing possibilities and the gear you will need. And feel free to call us anytime for information and insight.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Fishing Report for November 11th, 2010
Tis' the season that steelhead fishing is on our minds and many of us have headed for the streams of British Columbia, Idaho, and the Pacific Northwest to get our fix. We have good reports coming back from the Clearwater, the Grande Ronde, and the Deschutes.
But keep in mind that, although winter is fast approaching and air and water temps are pretty low, we still have some very good fishing happening in our area. The Snake, the South Fork, and the Salt all have decent dry fly action at certain parts of the afternoon with imitations of blue-winged olives, micro caddis, October caddis, and mahogany duns. Furmimsky BDEs (size 16), Parachute Adams (size 14 to 16), Copper Hazes (size 14 to 16), Purple Hazes (size 14 to 16), Elk Hair Caddis (size 16 to 18), X-Caddis (size 16), and orange Stimulators (size 12) have been doing the trick when the surface action starts to happen. And as usual, the more overcast it is, the better it can be.
Nymphing continues to be solid throughout the day, but especially from 12 pm until dusk. trout are podding up in structure pools, eddies and riffles, and all it takes is a double nymph rig drifted through a couple of times to get a take. Later in the day, nymphs dropped 16 to 20 inches from a large dry attractors are working well in riffles. Black or red Copper Johns (size 14 to 16) and Tungsten Midge Pupa (size 14 to 16) in black or olive have been producing best.
But nothing says fishing in November like streamers. Streamers are not necessarily bringing in the numbers that nymphs are and dry flies can, but they are bringing in some very large fish. They can entice big cutthroat to strike out of sheer aggravation, especially those holding alongside a number of podding fish in riffles and eddies. This is also the case for brown trout on the South Fork and the Salt as they pod up for spawning.
And don't forget forget about other waters in our region that still have marvelous fishing this time of year. Montana's Beaverhead has been really good with streamers and large nymphs for this stream's big brown trout. The Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley and downstream of Livingston is also a good choice. It holds large browns and cutthroat that get pretty made when a baitfish imitation gets a little too close.
But keep in mind that, although winter is fast approaching and air and water temps are pretty low, we still have some very good fishing happening in our area. The Snake, the South Fork, and the Salt all have decent dry fly action at certain parts of the afternoon with imitations of blue-winged olives, micro caddis, October caddis, and mahogany duns. Furmimsky BDEs (size 16), Parachute Adams (size 14 to 16), Copper Hazes (size 14 to 16), Purple Hazes (size 14 to 16), Elk Hair Caddis (size 16 to 18), X-Caddis (size 16), and orange Stimulators (size 12) have been doing the trick when the surface action starts to happen. And as usual, the more overcast it is, the better it can be.
Nymphing continues to be solid throughout the day, but especially from 12 pm until dusk. trout are podding up in structure pools, eddies and riffles, and all it takes is a double nymph rig drifted through a couple of times to get a take. Later in the day, nymphs dropped 16 to 20 inches from a large dry attractors are working well in riffles. Black or red Copper Johns (size 14 to 16) and Tungsten Midge Pupa (size 14 to 16) in black or olive have been producing best.
But nothing says fishing in November like streamers. Streamers are not necessarily bringing in the numbers that nymphs are and dry flies can, but they are bringing in some very large fish. They can entice big cutthroat to strike out of sheer aggravation, especially those holding alongside a number of podding fish in riffles and eddies. This is also the case for brown trout on the South Fork and the Salt as they pod up for spawning.
And don't forget forget about other waters in our region that still have marvelous fishing this time of year. Montana's Beaverhead has been really good with streamers and large nymphs for this stream's big brown trout. The Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley and downstream of Livingston is also a good choice. It holds large browns and cutthroat that get pretty made when a baitfish imitation gets a little too close.
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