October 7th 2025
It’s officially fall despite the weather acting as if it’s late June. We got a couple small shots of rain which were much needed, but still not enough. Despite low, clear water there have been some great opportunities for trout. With increased river traffic focused on the salmon, the night bite is still rolling. Don’t stray away from the larger mouse patterns this time of year, it can help weed out a few of the smaller fish. With the upcoming forecast of cooler nights and a big temp swing during the day, I’d expect the mousing to fall off. But there may still be a few windows when conditions allow.
Daytime trout fishing has also had its moments. With the salmon in the river kicking up bugs and sending eggs downstream, trout are getting a much needed source of food after a couple of long, hot months. Tightlining has been productive, especially on those days with cloudcover and rain. We’ve even had the opportunity to sightfish some large trout in shallow water. Approach is everything, walking up from the downstream side and minimizing wake/disturbance makes a difference. Taking time on each fish and changing flies has paid dividends. Small eggs (pink, orange, and yellow) and pheasant tails (12-16) have been the top producers. We’ve got what you need at the shop, swing over and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Most of our rivers are seeing peak salmon activity by now. Busy is an understatement some days but there’s plenty of fish around. Say hey to folks and be courteous out there! Streamer fishing low light conditions will be the best window until we get another shot of rain - which should be coming shortly. There’s always a chance a king gives you a big grab too… Black, olive, and tan are finding some nice fish. I’ve heard some rumors of a few steelhead showing up but it’ll be a little while until fishable numbers make their way into most systems.
Lot’s of opportunities out there! See you in the shop or on the water.
We’ve got more classes coming up, check out our full class schedule here.