After a few days of warm weather, winter is returning to the Bitterroot. Warm days in the 50’s are giving way to rain and snow in the valley with blizzard conditions in the mountains. Snow pack is sitting at 108 % and should continue to climb in the next week with the projected snow. A few fly fishers were out on the Bitterroot trying to shake off cabin fever.  Some fish were caught on streamers and nymphs but it is too early for any decent dry fly action. We are about a month away from the Skwala hatch. Consistent dry fly fishing should begin by mid March and last until runoff begins in late April. Its time to book your spring trip. See ya on the river……….

I haven’t updated my fishing report since Sept 11 as conditions remained consistent throughout September. As we enter October temperatures are cooling and water levels have dropped off a bit. The major hatches now should be the Mahoganies and BWO’s primarily in the afternoon. Cloudy days produce much better than days of bright sun. Tricos are still out in the mornings but will begin to taper off as we move into October. Believe it or not grasshoppers are still abundant and will produce good fish when no mayflies are on the water. Grasshoppers should produce until we get a hard freeze that finishes them off. Nymph droppers and streamers are also producing some nice fish when there is no top water action. Fall is a great time to be on the river. See ya on the water!

The weather is changing and fall is in the air. We had a few nights with lows reaching the 30’s. The next weeks forecast is for cool wet weather. This is great news for trout  and the fly fishers who chase them. Once the weather transitions we begin to see the fall hatches begin and trout get more active and on the feed. There are good numbers of Tricos emerging in the morning, and we are seeing the big fall drakes or Hecubas. Mahoganies should be out once we get into September. Fall produces some of the best dry fly fishing of the year and is a beautiful time to be on the river. Hopper fishing is still very good and should continue throughout September as they are a bit late this year due to the cool wet spring. Other area rivers fish well this time of year. The Blackfoot and Clark Fork are good options  and I will spend  time guiding them as well as the Bitterroot. Get out there and enjoy the great fall fishing. See ya on the river…