I cannot recall a better October(weather wise) than this past month. October can often be up and down with wind and the first snows of the year, yet this year we seemed to hold onto the magical late September weather pattern that generally presents cool nights and comfortable afternoons. Our best fly fishing of the year has certainly past but I am hear to say don't put your equipment away just yet. This is a fine time to explore, poke around and hunt a trophy trout. Locally on the Snake River I am focused on mid-late afternoons(1-4pm). Approach slow back waters off the main river with stealth and you will find nice trout holding in the gentle reverse currents. Getting a fly to these fish without spooking them is a fun challenge, try a longer leader and a delicate nymph dropper below a royal wulff(#18). The wulff is often taken as a midge cluster and if they are not looking up the nymph will draw a strike.
Another window of opportunity that has opened is the chance to catch a trophy Laker in shallow water. Jackson and Jenny lakes both harbor some health populations of mackinaw and now until ice in the larger fish can be targeted in depths less than 10'. Here I like a 7-8wt. with a full sinking(type IV or V) line. Try white on the best weather days and chartreuse on the bad. If you are looking for that fish of a lifetime throw fairly large streamers, 6"-8"on a 12lb. leader. Put your time in and it can happen. If you simply want some fish tacos, try smaller clousers and cover the water quickly until you get into the school of "rat" macs(trout under 22"). Also, below Jackson Lake in the Snake River holds a good population of smaller lake trout, they should be harvested here and are quite tasty!
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| Late October on Flat Creek… not much happening but the solitude was refreshing. |
Here a few pics from our annual Fall Guide's Retreat, a chance for us to fish and goof off together. What a great group of guys and what a great season, thank you for all involved in GTFF's 2014 season!!
For a full read check out
Jeff Currier's blog, he has the best hard core fishing blog out there, both domestic and abroad.
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| Josh Gallivan sounding the start, Caribbean style, to a great weekend |
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| Josh with a nice Bighorn Bow. |
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| Trey Scharp gets the early morning award. |
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| Tom Montgomery is about as passionate of an angler you could ever meet. |
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| Tom and Josh showing off their best moves. |
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| Currier gets it done late one evening after the gale passes. |
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| Ben Brennan surveys the trout from above the canyon. |
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| Got him! |
It definitely looks like the retreat was a success and good fun was had by all. Thank you for sharing and I can't wait to see the next adventure!
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