September and October Fall Fishing Report | Missoula Fly Fishing and Louisiana Red Fish

The Montana scenery in September did not disappoint. Unlike past years, our usual fall fishing weather; cool, cloudy, and rainy never arrived, and September felt more like an extension of summer. That wasn’t a problem, though, as the trico hatches on the Bitterroot River continued to test anglers each morning. Without the clouds and cooler temperatures, mahogany and blue-winged olive mayflies were scarce, making hopper and dropper fishing the most effective approach. With the Blackfoot River running low, the Clark Fork and Bitterroot rivers offered the best opportunities for hungry rainbow trout throughout the month.

As the Missoula fly fishing season wrapped up in September, I headed down to Louisiana to kick off my much-anticipated red fish season. Conditions couldn’t have been better; six straight days of bright sun to start things off. On the final day, we found a school of reds, and Mark sealed the trip perfectly by hooking a bull on his last cast. Bull reds were cruising the shallows in most ponds, with the occasional slot red mixed in. When the wind laid down, chasing schools of jacks and reds proved to be the most exciting approach, delivering intense top water action. One unforgettable moment came as we positioned ourselves on the point of an island; schools of 25–50 jacks poured through every two minutes for nearly two hours. The explosive eats and long fights on a 12-weight were pure adrenaline. Jack Crevalle truly live up to their reputation as fierce, relentless predators of bait fish.

As the wind picked up for a few days in the middle of the month, we shifted to shorter runs targeting slot fish, with the occasional chance at a bull. As the great daytime low tides faded, incoming tides paired with east and southeast winds pushed more water into the marsh, making sight fishing tougher; especially for newer anglers learning the ropes. A few challenging days are part of any saltwater trip, but there are always opportunities for incredible moments if you’re willing to stick it out. With November on the horizon, Gulf water temperatures will continue to cool from the scorching 86°F we saw in October, drawing more big bulls into the shallows. If you’re on the schedule for November, I’ll see you soon!