Small Streams
SMALL STREAMS
ReportThe Teton River in the basin remains a good choice for fly fishing even though daylight hours are diminishing and nights are getting cooler. Terrestrial insect patterns trailed with a small nymph remain very effective. Tiny BWOs, mahoganys, tricos, and yellow sally patterns work especially before bright sunshine arrives.
Canyon waters have abundant bankside terrestrial insects. From Hog Hollow downstream, terrestrial insects are active during daytime hours with caddisflies active in the evening. Palisades Creek remains a good choice to try, where trout respond to caddis life cycle, terrestrial insect, and traditional attractor patterns during warm daytime hours.
Big Elk Creek's afternoon western green drake hatch is winding down but still brings trout up during warm afternoons when terrestrial insects become active. Kokanee in the creek do not interfere with dry fly fishing.
Killing frosts are not far away for the small streams at higher elevation. Birch Creek remains good fly fishing because of numerous springs flowing into it. Tricos are showing up there.
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) | #20–22 | Moderate | Early morning before bright sunshine |
| Trico | #20–22 | Moderate | Early morning, especially Birch Creek |
| Mahogany Dun | #16–18 | Moderate | Morning, before full sun |
| Yellow Sally Stonefly | #14–16 | Light to Moderate | Morning, before bright sunshine |
| Caddisfly | #16–20 | Good | Evening, Hog Hollow downstream and Palisades Creek |
| Western Green Drake | #12–14 | Light — winding down | Warm afternoons, Big Elk Creek |
- EARLY MORNING (before full sun): Target BWOs, tricos, and mahoganys with small dry flies and nymph droppers on the Teton and Birch Creek before bright sunshine shuts down the hatch.
- MIDDAY TO AFTERNOON (warm hours): Switch to terrestrial patterns — hoppers and ants trailed with a small nymph — along canyon banks and Palisades Creek; Big Elk Creek's green drake hatch may still fire on warm afternoons.
- EVENING: Move to caddis dry patterns from Hog Hollow downstream and throughout Palisades Creek as caddisflies become active in the fading light.
