Autumn kicked off with another dose of cold, wet weather last week. There are already patches of yellow, orange, and red in the fallen trees and bushes up and down the valley. As schools reopen and the fishing season begins, the rivers are experiencing very little pressure. Cool air and water temperatures will turn the gates to midday, signaling to trout that it’s urgent time to feed because winter is just around the corner. Fall is a great time to be a hunter in Wood River Valley!
Expect to find short windows of decent dry fly fishing with Baetis and Calibaetis during the more pleasant time of day. On cloudy and cool days, the Baetis size 22 and 24 can be great. Mahogany Duns should also become a good option over the next few weeks. When the wind blows, try a hopper, an ant, or a beetle. Fish tend to lose their inhibitions through wind blowing at the surface and anglers can take advantage of this. This is also a good time of year to try nymph fishing or streak fishing. Those who have fished the creek regularly know this has been a challenging season, but the large numbers of baby trout and abundant water bode well for the year ahead.
Flows are still high due to the late rains, so wade with caution. With cooler temperatures, Red Quill should start to be a factor. Diligent fishermen covering a large area of land find some great fish, but the catch is not easy. The forest, like the creek, has a bright future thanks to the water and large numbers of small fish.
Warm Springs and Trail CreekIf the streams in the forest are too high for you, try one of these tributaries. There are plenty of fish stocked near the bridges and healthy populations of wild fish if you wander away from the easy access points.
(South Fork Boys).Flows decreased to a wadable level of 600 cubic feet per second. It’s wise to see a few Flavs and Pink Alberts hatching in the early afternoon. Baetis starts to appear in the middle of the day as well, especially on cloudy days. Cans are also still around in the late afternoon and provide a good search pattern in case there are a few misses.
On cool mornings, fishing is best from midday to late afternoon. The openings are sparse, but you will see a few Tricos, Bites and some small cans during the afternoon. The cold weather also unleashed the hecuba hatch, the last big mayfly of the season.
Flows down the dam have decreased to about 575 cubic feet per second. The flow of muddy water from Upper Lost along with the upturning of the lake changed the color of the water below the dam. Remember that these high flows will continue until the reservoir is drained and repairs can be made to the gates. Once the tank is drained, the outflow from the tank must match the inflow.
Flows picked up again thanks to rain over the Labor Day weekend, but fell and eased. It should be completely clear by the end of the week. High flows made floating this river possible late in the season. Deep water fishing is also a viable option. As you travel along this river, there are plenty of places to park and look around. For the flies, try matching hopper patterns with an embroidered nymph.
Recently stocked are Penny Lake, Heagle Park Pond, Lake Creek, and Gaver’s Lagoon. If you are looking for a fun place to have a family picnic and catch some fish, give this a try.
