The St. Joe in September.

[Roper]

@Scott Salzer and I are talking about a camping trip to the upper river the beginning of September. We have a campsite picked out ( if we get there first) but don’t know much about how to fish it. We’re not expecting big fish and will be taking 5,4, and 3 weights. What we’re curious about is what to take for flies. I’m a full sink, streamers and cast and strip kinda guy in stillwater. But I do have floating lines and a fair selection of dry flies. Oh, and a new to me bamboo rod perfect for floating lines. So, what kind if bugs should we be sure to have?

 

[Guy Gregory]

Any northern hatch chart will give you lots of alternatives. Make sure you’ve caddis dries in 14-18. Have a great trip.

 

[Old406Kid]

Spruce Moths - Fly Fisherman

The West holds few hatch secrets anymore, and the best of the big bug

www.flyfisherman.com

 

[dibling]

Purple hazes and general attractor patterns should crush in September once nights get cool. Drop something small off the back and enjoy.

Also, how "upper"? If you're talking paved road still above Avery, then I'd go with a 5 wt. I haven't gone much further than where it hits dirt, so can't speak to that.

 

[Cowlitz Bottomfeeder]

It’s a sweet little river. The one time I was there in early September, the best fly was a grasshopper. Beware because in the North country the frosts come early and will kill the hoppers. A 3 wt will catch any fish in that river. 15” were about max. I used mostly small dries like #16-18 Renegades and BWO’s. Little pheasant tails worked as BWO’s nymphs. I remember a hatch of tiny ants maybe 28’s that was like a cloud of bugs. Fall is like low water there and in a dry summer you might not have enough water for good fishing. The other thing about that river is that the cutthroat are migratory from the lake below to the roadless areas above.

 

[Roper]

Our decision to work the upper end is to get way from any crowds. If that’s not an issue then lower could be better. I’m thinking to check the flow as we head up.

 

[Skimr]

Idaho Fly Fishing Company is a great fly shop in Avery and they’re pretty keyed into what’s catching fish. I’ve found them to be a great resource. Yellow Sally’s and caddis have been good producers in Sept. Purple haze can also be good. And be aware the rocks are slick, slicker and slickest lol. Felt and wading staff the only thing that keeps me on my feet.

 

[dibling]

Idaho Fly Fishing Company is a great fly shop in Avery and they’re pretty keyed into what’s catching fish. I’ve found them to be a great resource. Yellow Sally’s and caddis have been good producers in Sept. Purple haze can also be good. And be aware the rocks are slick, slicker and slickest lol. Felt and wading staff the only thing that keeps me on my feet.

And steeeep banks in many spots. Definitely have had a few close calls scrambling out.

 

[Greg Armstrong]

EHC’s always worked well for me up there, size 14. Ants too, as suggested.

The sun takes some time to creep over the mountains up there later in the season, and I’ve found it can take awhile for dries to attract attention. Muddler might be worth a try then.

A few years ago I was up there and the Spruce moths were so thick it looked like it was snowing. The surface of the river was covered with them, but strangely the cutthroat’s totally ignored them.

 

[Matt B]

The first time I visited the St. Joe was in early October in a record low water year. I went with a friend and his friends, all from Idaho/NE Oregon who had fished the river for years. They were all fishing with tiny dries, like 18s at the largest. It kinda made sense, a 16 looked huge out there in those conditions. I decided to fish my 15’ type 6 sink tip with trout sized leeches and buggers and such in the fastest and deepest stuff around and did quite well, much to their surprise. And we were lower on the river, in order to have more water. We could still cross enough to fish wherever we wanted, with some decent wading.

 

[mark wlker]

Try the ice cream at the fly shop.

 

[Old406Kid]

Our decision to work the upper end is to get way from any crowds. If that’s not an issue then lower could be better. I’m thinking to check the flow as we head up.

Once school starts you will have a lot more 'elbow room' especially if you plan your trip during the weekdays.

 

[sbonvallEt]

Great area. Went there a bit north of Avery for first time area last summer and camped. Probably the best dry fly fishing I’ve experienced. As mentioned the shop in Avery has incredible ice cream and the huckleberry milkshakes were incredible. Planning to go again and thinking of camping more towards Calder. Any suggestions on campgrounds?
Scott

 

[Coach Potter]

The Joe is one drainage over from my stomping grounds. September is my busy season and rarely make it far from home but I am envious of those who do…often times it’s our best weather of the year. The Joe fishes very similar to my home water. It’s still summer up there in early September.

There will probably be more archery elk hunters up there than fishermen. The standard late summer stuff will still be the deal…hoppers, caddies, etc. The spruce moth is really the only “unique” thing. I have personally never seen fish keying on them but they certainly do…just never experienced it myself.

I would probably be fishing a streamer a lot. By late summer I have sufficiently scratched the dry and I catch bigger fish on streamers later in the year. In addition, where you will be, there is always a chance to catch one of those big predators .

 

[jasmillo]

Depending on the weather and how early in September you go, consider bringing some baetis patterns. Various sizes of paraduns always work well (14-20). I’ve had some amazing dry fly fishing mid September in that river as well as other close by with that pattern. If it’s really early September and more of a summer weather pattern still, you’ll fish them less but still good to have for dusk/dawn dry fly action.

 

[Coach Potter]

Depending on the weather and how early in September you go, consider bringing some baetis patterns. Various sizes of paraduns always work well (14-20). I’ve had some amazing dry fly fishing mid September in that river as well as other close by with that pattern. If it’s really early September and more of a summer weather pattern still, you’ll fish them less but still good to have for dusk/dawn dry fly action.

Definitely! Also, some small ants.

 

[Ron McNeal]

Anything & Partridge. They're effective and they don't take up much room.......

 

[iveofione]

Try the ice cream at the fly shop.

+1

 

[Fourbtgait]

Define upper.
Each year we camp fish the St Joe above the road in from St Regis. One lane with turnouts.
Only time we fish lower is a drift boat, use 5 wt rods for fish up to say 18”.
On the upper, our trips have been in late September and water low enough to wet wade, I use a 4 wt but often a 3 wt would be more fun. You can easily wade across the river and fish seams, pockets. Only one large fish there landed, 15”.
Typically I used dry attractor flies, though last trip Adams was consistant.
We got back today from 3 days up there plus a trip into Montana. Had to teach myself to high stick nymphs real quick for all 3 days, plus though water wasn’t high, a lot flowing so couldn’t fish seams I normally do but still caught consistently, even day after rainstorm. For 20 minutes on the last day I fished dries when suddenly a hatch came off. A strick every cast but only hooked 4 fish, fat, 10” average.

We typically show up Wednesday to get a spot. Most all were already taken. In September we do the same, can usually get our spot but fills up on Friday. Both times you will find people running the road to fish the easily gotten to spots constantly. Seek out the difficult to get into areas.

 

[Roper]

Define upper.
Each year we camp fish the St Joe above the road in from St Regis. One lane with turnouts.
Only time we fish lower is a drift boat, use 5 wt rods for fish up to say 18”.
On the upper, our trips have been in late September and water low enough to wet wade, I use a 4 wt but often a 3 wt would be more fun. You can easily wade across the river and fish seams, pockets. Only one large fish there landed, 15”.
Typically I used dry attractor flies, though last trip Adams was consistant.
We got back today from 3 days up there plus a trip into Montana. Had to teach myself to high stick nymphs real quick for all 3 days, plus though water wasn’t high, a lot flowing so couldn’t fish seams I normally do but still caught consistently, even day after rainstorm. For 20 minutes on the last day I fished dries when suddenly a hatch came off. A strick every cast but only hooked 4 fish, fat, 10” average.

We typically show up Wednesday to get a spot. Most all were already taken. In September we do the same, can usually get our spot but fills up on Friday. Both times you will find people running the road to fish the easily gotten to spots constantly. Seek out the difficult to get into areas.View attachment 119761View attachment 119762View attachment 119763View attachment 119764

I’m looking a Conrad Crossing CG, 28 miles east of Avery.