“October is a symphony of permanence and change.”
– Bonaro W. Overstreet
October is a paradox where the constant harmonizes with the ephemeral. And the angler gets the privilege of being part of the symphony.
Silver Creek
With the Tricos winding down, Baetis and Mahogany duns take the stage. The hatch is often intense and brief during the most pleasant time of day. You might also spot a few Callibaetis in the afternoon on the pond, along with some skittering October Caddis. As we’re still mostly in the pre-spawn phase for the browns, casting a large streamer past these aggressive fish may yield a take. Of course, some fish will be active on redds now that the temperatures have dropped. If you plan on tubing in the pond or S-curves, be sure to layer up as the water temps have dropped.
Big Wood
You know true fall fishing has arrived when golden leaves blanket the water with every gust of wind. Pleasant afternoons will bring an abundance of Fall Baetis, drawing fish to the surface. When the bugs are active, feeding can be intense. With low water conditions, anglers need to be extra stealthy when approaching surface-feeding trout. When the Baetis aren’t around, fish will still take a well-drifted caddis, small hopper, or Hecuba pattern in the riffles, runs, and seams. A small Zebra midge (in black, red, or olive) or Baetis nymph as a dropper can also be highly effective. Various techniques can yield success when fish aren’t rising. This is the perfect time to sharpen your streamer skills or practice sight nymphing without an indicator.
South Fork of the Boise
The flows have been up and down but seem to have settled just below 300 CFS, making it ideal for wade fishing. As always, keep an eye out for Pinks, Flavs, and Baetis during the warmer parts of the day. You might also spot small cream-colored crane flies fluttering about, often followed by aggressive strikes. The evening caddis hatch remains decent, so it’s worth fishing right until dark during warm days.
The Lost Below Mackay
Fall Baetis thrive in colder weather, and last week’s cool down has really ignited this hatch on the Lower Lost. You can expect to see bugs on the water in the early afternoon as the air temperatures rise. With flows around 200 CFS, the river is easy to navigate. However, with limited access, be sure to avoid walking on private property and stay within the high-water line.
Upper Big Lost
This is an excellent spot for an afternoon fish on a pleasant fall day. There’s no need to rush—sleep in and take your time driving up Trail Creek Pass. Focus on the main stem and bounce between the deeper runs. Terrestrials are particularly effective this time of year and there are Red Quills as well.
The Salmon
The area above and below Stanley has been fishing exceptionally well. Your strategy is simple: as the air temperatures rise, look for a good pull-out along the river and target spots with varied depth and structure. There are plenty of stocked and wild trout, as well as white fish, to keep you busy.
Local Ponds
Lake Creek, Penny Lake, or Gaver’s Lagoon were stocked for the last time a few weeks ago. These are great places to help a youngster catch a fish with bait or have a fly fishing lesson.
Silver Creek: Beatis | Callibeatis | Mahogany Duns | Crane Flies | Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | Small Pheasant Tails | October Caddis | Hoppers
Big Wood: Caddis | Red Quills | Hoppers | Rubber Legged Stones | Perdigones | King Prince | Streamers
Big Lost: Tricos | Crane Flies | Chubby Chernobyl | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers | Red Quills | Beatis
Salmon River: Chubby Chernobyl | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers | October Caddis | Hoppers
South Fork of the Boise: Zebra Midge | Caddis Larva | Flashback Pheasant Tails | Streamers | Flavs | Baetis | Crane Flies
| Silver Creek | 83 cfs |
| Big Wood | 145 cfs |
| The Lost Below Mackay | 218 cfs |
| Salmon | 767 cfs |
| South Fork of the Boise | 288 cfs |
