General Conditions
Fall fishing has been beautiful across Idaho, and we’ve been enjoying the ideal seasonal weather while it lasts. Flows have receded on many tailwaters, concentrating fish and improving accessibility for wading anglers—especially along the Boise River in town. October marks the start of brown trout spawning season, so please be cautious when wading near redds. Steelhead fishing is picking up on the Clearwater and Salmon Rivers, making this a great time to swing for one of Idaho’s most prized fish. With cooling water temperatures and active trout, now is the perfect time to get out and fish. Idaho Angler has everything you need to make the most of your next adventure.
Boise River – In Town
Flows have dropped below 300 CFS and will remain low for the rest of the season. Streamer fishing has been productive as pre-spawn browns and larger rainbows feed aggressively ahead of winter. Crayfish and sculpin imitations are working best, but don’t hesitate to throw larger streamers. For higher numbers of fish, nymphing is most effective—both Euro and indicator setups are producing well. Fish two flies in-line: a heavier beaded attractor nymph up top and a smaller midge or mayfly pattern trailing behind to imitate what trout are keying on.
Fly Selection: #20–22 Tungsten Split Case BWO, #14–20 Tungsten FB Pheasant Tail, #14–18 Hare’s Ear, #16–20 Copper John, #16–18 Rosa Red Tag, #16–18 Blowtorch, #18–22 Zebra Midge, #18–20 BH Thorax Emerger BWO, Sculpzilla #4, #6 Mini Dungeon (Olive, White, Natural), #6 Mud Bug.
Owyhee River
Flows have dropped to around 30 CFS. With brown trout actively spawning, we recommend avoiding the Owyhee for now to protect these fish. If you do fish it, target deeper, slower holes that aren’t used for spawning grounds. Light nymph rigs or small streamers are most effective, expect small midges and BWOs to be the main food sources.
Fly Selection: #20–22 Zebra Midge, #20–22 Demon Midge, #20–22 Split Case BWO, #20–22 Hackle Stacker BWO, #18 Para Ant (Black/Red), #18–20 BH Thorax Emerger BWO.
South Fork Boise River
We have heard a mixed bag of reports coming out of the South Fork of the Boise River but one thing remains consistent: large trout. Flows remain at 300 CFS which make this optimal for wading. Hatches have been all over the board, you'll mainly want to focus on smaller mayfly patterns such as BWO and Baetis. However, we have heard several reports of PMDs still lingering and hatching when the conditions align. Anglers have had success on pinks, midges, and caddis as well.
Fly Selection: #16-18 Pink Hackle Stacker, #18 Stacked Hackle Callibaetis #14–16 Blowtorch, #16–18 Spanish Bullet, #6–8 Restless Stone, #14 Rosa Red Tag, #12–14 Frenchie, #8–10 Elk Hair Caddis (Orange), #8–10 Burkus October Caddis, #14–16 Corn Fed Caddis, #18–20 Last Chance Cripple BWO.
Silver Creek
Silver Creek continues to fish well this fall with plenty of hatches that you can zero in on. While the larger bugs are gone, BWOs and Baetis are still active, and midges remain a year-round staple. Cloudy days provide the best hatch activity. Smaller ants and beetles will still produce if hatches are minimal. Brown trout are spawning—please avoid wading near redds or targeting spawning fish.
Fly Selection: #16–20 CDC Biot Dun Mahogany, #18–20 Biot Comparadun Mahogany, #16 King Splitsville Spinner, #14–16 Spent Ant (Black), #20–22 Zebra Midge.
Snake River
The Snake has provided steady Smallmouth Bass action this fall. As temperatures drop, bass are holding deeper—weighted streamers or indicator rigs work best. Balanced leeches under an indicator continue to produce consistently.
Fly Selection: #10–12 Balanced Leech (Black/Brown), #10 Beadbelly Leech (Olive), #8–10 Woolly Bugger, #8 Zonker Minnow (Yellow, Olive, White), #8 Sculpzilla (Olive, White, Natural), #4 Bass Poppers, #4 PJ Skater Popper, Galloup’s Sex Dungeon (Olive, Yellow, White).
Steelhead
Steelhead are showing up in strong numbers on the Clearwater and Salmon Rivers. Now is the time to chase the “fish of a thousand casts.” Fishermen have had success on skater patterns, targeting surfacing steelhead. Swinging traditional patterns has also been producing. Be prepared with proper gear, including spey rods, sink tips, and warm layers for long days on the water. Idaho Angler carries a full selection of steelhead flies—from skaters and traditional patterns to egg imitations perfect for indicator setups. Stop by our Boise shop or visit our online store to gear up for your next steelhead trip.
Stillwater
Stillwater fishing has been variable due to fluctuating temperatures and lower water levels, but trout are still going to be feeding heavily before winter. Higher elevation lakes are now fishable from shore, while lower lakes often require a boat or raft to reach deeper, weed-free zones. Chironomid hatches are strong—fish them under an indicator or strip slowly on a sinking line. Balanced leeches and streamers imitating baitfish are highly effective.
Duck Valley: Fishing has been tougher this fall with heavy weeds and pelican activity, but trout are still cruising weed beds. Stripping leeches and woolly buggers has been most productive.
Pyramid Lake: The 2025–2026 season has kicked off a BANG, with many fish caught over 15 pounds. Lahontan Cutthroat are aggressively feeding on baitfish, making it a great time for float tube or raft fishing with large streamers or jigs. The lake is currently turning over, so surface algae may appear, but fishing remains excellent. Shore fishing should pick up by early November with balanced leeches fished under an indicator. It is in your best interest to carry a good selection of chironomids on days where leeches aren't doing the trick. Idaho Angler has a brand new selection of expertly tied chironomids that are known to produce at Pyramid as well as most other lakes!
