“In November you begin to know how long the winter will be.”
– Martha Gellhorn
The first snows have dusted the mountain tops and soon the trees will be stripped bare. Fall’s finale is upon us. Anglers and trout need to prepare for the season to come.
Silver Creek
November marks the final month for fishing the Creek in the Preserve; however, below Kilpatrick Bridge, the Creek remains open until the end of March. With the variable weather you can expect surface activity to be inconsistent with the mid to late afternoons being the best time to be on the water. Look for Baetis to be the primary hatch, especially on cloudy days. Be sure to carry a variety of Baetis nymphs, duns, emergers, and spinners to match the hatch. The fish are eager to feed, so any bug activity will likely get them active both on the surface and subsurface. Nymphing with small midge and Baetis nymphs has been particularly effective, and streamers are also producing some takes. If tubing, don’t forget to layer up under your waders to stay warm in the chilly water. Lastly, please be mindful of the increasing Brown spawning activity—it’s best to avoid disturbing these fish and to refrain from wading through the redds.
Big Wood
It’s finally cold enough to push the Wood into full fall mode. Make the most of these next two weeks, as once the extreme cold settles in, the fishing will slow significantly. Remember, overcast skies often lead to the best hatches, and several inclement days are in the forecast. This time of year, fish feed aggressively as they sense the shortening days and dwindling food supply. For dry flies, be sure to carry a good selection of Baetis patterns and use a long, fine leader. Terrestrials, particularly black ants, can also be very effective right now. However, the most successful technique continues to be nymphing, whether with a dry-dropper rig or Euro style.
South Fork of the Boise
With flows holding around 300 CFS, this is a really good late fall fishing destination. The cooler weather, like all our fisheries, kick started the Baetis activity. The fishing window has shortened, but it is furious. Look for a mix of Baetis and midge, with a few small crane flies, between 1 and 3 in the afternoon. Before and after this window, nymphing is most productive.
The Lost Below Mackay
The flows have dropped significantly to around 60 CFS, so stealth is essential. You’ll find a good concentration of fish in the buckets and the shallow water at the head of the buckets. These spots are your best bet for a quick hookup, but your first few casts are vital to success. After that, the fish can become wary. Perhaps give them some time to rest before returning to pick off a few more. In the afternoons, there’s a brief window of decent dry fly activity, with fish likely feeding on Baetis or midges. Given the low, clear water, it’s wise to use light tippet for these selective trout, whether you’re nymphing or fishing dries.
Upper Big Lost
This is an excellent choice if you’re looking for solitude. Soon, this area will be blanketed in snow, and Trail Creek Pass will be closed, so make the most of it while you can. If you go, focus on the prime holding water. A great strategy is to start with a flying ant or another attractor fly, followed by a small nymph. The key to success here is to stay mobile and keep searching for decent holding water.
The Salmon
The river above and below Stanley has been fishing very well. Mornings can be quite chilly, and temperatures drop quickly at sunset, so the late afternoon is the best time to fish. If you find the right spot, you’ll encounter good concentrations of rainbows, cutthroat, whitefish, and bull trout. Focus on the dancing water just above the deeper runs. If one spot isn’t producing, don’t hesitate to move to another pullout along the road. Nymphing has been the most effective approach.
Silver Creek: Baetis | Midge | Callibeatis | Mahogany Duns | Zebra Midge in black, red, or olive | Small Pheasant Tails | October Caddis
Big Wood: Baetis | Midge | Caddis | Perdigones | King Prince | Streamers
Big Lost: Baetis | Crane Flies | Chubby Chernobyl | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers
Salmon River: Chubby Chernobyl | Rubber Legged Stones | King Prince | Streamers | October Caddis
South Fork of the Boise: Zebra Midge | Caddis Larva | Flashback Pheasant Tails | Streamers | Flavs | Baetis | Crane Flies
| Silver Creek | 91.5 cfs |
| Big Wood | 160 cfs |
| The Lost Below Mackay | 61.1 cfs |
| Salmon | 1090 cfs |
| South Fork of the Boise | 297 cfs |
