Where to fish in the cold?

The Firehole is a great October fishery!

Our weather is getting chilly around here. There are still fish to be caught……. But, it has slowed down a bit over the past week and a half or so. The cold weather mixed with water flows dropping has seemed to put the trout into a little bit of a winter HIBERNATION period. If you want to get out, The Firehole River in Yellowstone is thermally influenced and is a great place to target trout on dries. If you want to fish the Yellowstone, there is no reason to get to the water at sun-rise. WE have found the most productive hours to be between 11 and 3 or so. Of course, clouds and calm winds help.

Nymphing , fishing subsurface, can be a productive method on the Yellowstone on chilly, Fall days.

Methods

When it is chilly outside, be prepared to fish multiple methods and different water depths. Nymphing is the most productive method by far out there right now. We were on the water this weekend, and smaller pheasant tails and beeded soft hackles produced the best (although overall it was generally slower fishing).

Streamers can be a fun way to target the bigger fish. Take your time, and strip it slower than you think.

Small dries can DEFINITELY bring them to the surface when the conditions are right. WE have been dropping a size 18-20 griffiths Gnat off of a Purple Haze. IT’s best to fish to rising fish instead of blind casting all day.

Give us a call for the most recent reports or to book a trip with one of our Yellowstone River Guides. You have to cast a fly to catch a fish!

Tight Lines,

Yellowstone River Outfitters