Oct-Nov Trout Recommendations

jaredoconnor

jaredoconnor

Peabrain Chub
My dad is planning to come over Oct-Nov. I’m going to take a week off and we can drive/fly anywhere in the USA. The only catch is that the access and wading must be relatively easy. He said he’s not up for rivers that are covered with slippery boulders anymore. Any recommendations?
 
Depending on when in October...early part of the month the higher elevation Rockies weather can be tolerable in many places, highly variable however. Have had easy wading days in Yellowstone area, and good days in the Park in October, been snowed on too.
November trout fishing may be better towards the southern parts of the country, and at lower elevations.
San Juan is pretty easy wading, lots of fish, but in my mind they are a bit sluggish in the fight, and old eyes like mine struggle with sz 22 and under midge larvae.
 
John Dude said:
Yakima River is good in those months. Look at the section from 3 Bridges, downstream as far as Thorpe
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Thanks for the suggestion. However, Yakima is one place my dad specifically didn’t enjoy wading, although I’m sure there are stretches that are easier than where we were.

I’m looking for rivers where the bottom is mostly sand and small pebbles, rather than rocks and boulders.
 
You talk about a week off, so fishing days are even less.
Would you consider a guided float trip on separate days offering better fishing than wading worries?
 
jaredoconnor said:
I’m looking for rivers where the bottom is mostly sand and small pebbles, rather than rocks and boulders.
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And you want to wade? No guided drift boat fishing?

This is a little bit of a tall order. Some parts of the Missouri fit that bill.

www.headhuntersflyshop.com

Missouri River October Fishing Forecast 2025 — Headhunters

Missouri River October Fishing Forecast 2025 Bring on the cloudy, wet, and fall weather that we just love in October. Let's not wait until November. We do want it in November as well but the October time frame will suit us just fine. But we are looking for the perfect day as described below... O
www.headhuntersflyshop.com www.headhuntersflyshop.com

The Madison does not, but the trick to fishing the Madison on foot is to not wade, or barely wade, and fish that bank water carefully.
 
Fourbtgait said:
Would you consider a guided float trip on separate days offering better fishing than wading worries?
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Matt B said:
And you want to wade? No guided drift boat fishing?
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No boats, unfortunately. My old man is scared of them. I’m working on getting him into a float tube, on small urban lakes, but even that is proving to be a challenge.

Matt B said:
This is a little bit of a tall order.
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That’s why I had to resort to posting on here and it’s not the first time. My dad has… requirements… 🤣

Matt B said:
Some parts of the Missouri fit that bill.

www.headhuntersflyshop.com

Missouri River October Fishing Forecast 2025 — Headhunters

Missouri River October Fishing Forecast 2025 Bring on the cloudy, wet, and fall weather that we just love in October. Let's not wait until November. We do want it in November as well but the October time frame will suit us just fine. But we are looking for the perfect day as described below... O
www.headhuntersflyshop.com www.headhuntersflyshop.com

The Madison does not, but the trick to fishing the Madison on foot is to not wade, or barely wade, and fish that bank water carefully.
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He was OK on the Madison, because he never really needed to wade more than a few feet off the bank. That was the peak of summer though. Not sure what it’s like in Oct-Nov.
 
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If he was OK on the Madison, the park has some easy wading stretches on the Madision, and October will be during the Brown trout spawning run, that are easily accessible from the road, as well as the Firehole. You can fish the Gibbon effectively without getting wet in places. The Lamar, and if he can hike a few miles, Slough Creek provide more easy wading...and just those spots will fill a week easily.
 
jaredoconnor said:
No boats, unfortunately. My old man is scared of them. I’m working on getting him into a float tube, on small urban lakes, but even that is proving to be a challenge.



That’s why I had to resort to posting on here and it’s not the first time. My dad has… requirements… 🤣



He was OK on the Madison, because he never really needed to wade more than a few feet off the bank. That was the peak of summer though. Not sure what it’s like in Oct-Nov.
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Fear is fear but I’m way more leery of a float tube dangling my bits over the deep black abyss than standing in a solid drifty. So, yeah that’s interesting. Haha.

Doing Okay on the Madison is promising. It can be good in October. Brown trout will be running. There are other options in MT in October like others have said above.
 
Montana definitely has some great options in October, but beware that you are getting into “weather could throw a big monkey wrench in my plans” time, even in early October. Especially in higher elevation areas. Rivers will still fish but if he is not a fan of wading already, wading with a little snow or ice may really not be his thing. I’d throw CO out there for consideration too. Lots of water at different elevation levels, some pretty straightforward wading on some rivers (or even fishing from bank) and most likely you’d be fishing tailwaters which will stay consistent output wise through early fall weather.

Tough to beat MT browns in October. That said, CO has some great fall brown fishing as well.
 
So, for trout at that time of year and “easier” wading, it seems like the consensus is to go east and south. Up, too, but how far up…
Could you retain some flexibility? That would be cool. Go where conditions are best for the week he is here.
I have never been to the San Juan nor do I really care to a whole lot but it does seem like a good bet maybe for what you are looking for. But…if that’s what you’re into…what if you spent $2k on dry aged steaks, 20 year scotch, the best VRBO Moses Lake has to offer, and fish The Ford. The warm water ditch. Battle F Troop, and test your angling mettle at Washington’s premier spring creek fishery, Rocky Ford.
Dun dun duuhnnnnn.
 
Years ago there was a tread on the other site on “firm feeling bottoms”.

Eastern Idaho and Montana is where you want to head.
 
besides the Madison and Firehole, I'd add the South Fork of the Snake...we had a blast there one late Sept (with easy wading) tossing Royal Coachmans at big cutt's that would just smash them.
 
Missoula River Lodge. Obviously, Montana. Not cheap but they have a number of options for float trips. Not much wading. Great meals on site....
 
If you're looking for access and wading that isn't tricky with a drive that isn't nuts, why not talk to the guides at Emerald waters (or other local flyshop) and do some saltwater for searun cutts? The guide thing takes the pressure off of you to impress him, it puts you and him in neutral territory where you can both pick up some new skills, and you got plenty of time to maybe explore around with daytrip and or a couple overnghters here and there and so on. It's all knee high wades and super predictable with firm footing. I guess the downside there is that is the heart of the weather turns shitty in Puget Sound.... but....it's still a unique non Aus experience. I mean for him, he's already going to be in an exotic place....

failing that another vote for the madison/firehole, low stress, check out the park before it sorta wraps for road access and swing by the tetons and craters of the moon and so on on the way home....

i suppose another pretty walkable and wadable is the Big Wood at Sun Valley, Big lost too...
 
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