Happy Halloween! I know it’s scary; it’s snowing outside and it’s the last fishing report of the year. The flow out of Palisades sits at about 1,300 cfs. We’ll see 900 cfs here soon if I had to guess. This opens up all kinds of wade fishing opportunities and makes any float trip feel like it’s in slow motion.
The fish are moving into their winter holes, all except the spawning Brown Trout sitting on their reds. Remember if you see clean gravel, stay off of it so these eggs can hatch. Fishing egg patterns in the deep runs right now below any shallow gravel will help you into a few fish. We’re also seeing the last of the BWO’s hatching in the afternoons along with midges. Streamers are on the menu as well, territorial Brown Trout and hungry Cutthroat, Rainbows, or Hybrids bulking up for winter. If you work a run with a streamer and don’t get anything, it’s easy enough to walk or row back up and work it again with a Rubberlegs trailed with an egg or a midge or BWO dropper.
The above strategies will work all winter. Streamers should be fished deep and slow as the fish’s metabolism slows for winter so does their willingness to give chase. Strategic nymphing will be your best bet most of the winter and expect to work your way through some Whitefish as they seem to really embrace eating in the winter while their trout brethren take things a bit more casual.
We’ll update the fishing report on an as needed basis through the winter and look forward to seeing everyone on the water and in the lodge again in 2025. Thanks for a great year! Our Swan Valley Fly Shop will be open with limited hours all winter. You can give the team there a call at 208-483-2727 or shop on line at tlapcflyshop.com
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