October fishing shines in Grand Teton National Park

IDAHO FALLS — Normally anglers bemoan potato farmers and the water they take from famed trout fisheries.

But in Grand Teton National Park a savvy group of anglers cheers the annual drawdown because it turns a good fishery great.

In late September, the Bureau of Reclamation turns off the tap at Jackson Lake, cutting the river’s flow from roughly 2,000 cubic feet per second to 300 cfs. Once the water stabilizes, the fishing can be world-class for cutthroat to 20 inches.

“Everything is right about the Snake in October,” said Ned Hutchison of Westbank Anglers, which guides in the park. “And the tourists are gone.”

Views are unmatched as the river bumps against the sagebrush flats and coils through the yellow-dappled cottonwood forest. Grand Teton’s seven 12,000 foot peaks touch the clouds and dominate the horizon.

Tightly bunched cutthroat trout and whitefish pods feed indiscriminately to ready for the winter.

Fish swirl to bead-head nymphs to small attractor patterns and blue-winged olives. The bulk of the fish are 10- to 12-inch trout.

Boaters can float four sections of the Snake — from the dam to Pacific Creek, Pacific Creek to Deadman’s, Deadman’s to Moose and Moose to the Wilson Bridge. At low flows, all are full-day floats. There are no rapids to speak of, but anglers must pay attention to gravel bars and stay away from side channels, Hutchinson said.

“Floating is fun, but the smart guys hike in and wade,” Hutchinson said. “Fish will get podded up and the hatches are generally very localized,” Hutchinson said. “If you do find actively rising fish, stick with them.”

The fall hatches include baetis, mahogany duns and October caddis. Streamer fishing can also be good in the fall.