Fishing on the Eagle River has been phenomenal since the closure was lifted in late September.  Water temperatures have come down significantly while flows remain near or below historic lows.  This means that fish are still heavily concentrated in deeper pools.  Fall hatches are not quite in full swing yet, most likely due to the low water and abnormal summer we have had.  BWOs have been the predominant hatch so far with the heaviest hatches occurring late in the afternoon.

Upper Eagle

The upper Eagle has been fishing well as browns start to make their move upstream and into smaller tributaries to spawn.  These fish saw heavy fishing pressure throughout the summer due to the lower sections being closed, making them more wary of anglers and flies than they typically are.  Water temps on the upper sections are staying in the high 40s to low 50s and fish have started to move into slower deeper pockets.  Throwing small streamers behind rocks and slower pocket water is always a productive tactic this time of year as fish become more willing to expend energy on a bigger meal. In deep runs, nymphing has also been very productive as cool temps make midges and BWOs more active in the water.  Small green and black nymphs in sizes 20 and 22 have been most productive

Lower Eagle

The lower Eagle is really the place to be right now.  Below Edwards, fish went over two months without getting heavily pressured.  This, along with fish eager to eat and pack on weight before winter, means that fish are hungry and eager to eat.  BWOs are also the main hatch on the lower Eagle but fish do not seem to be too picky about size or color.  Anglers do not need to worry about going super small with their fly selection yet, as fish are eagerly eating size 16 pheasant tails, hare’s ears and perdigons.  Streamer fishing on the lower Eagle has also started to pick up.  Small jig streamers, wooly buggers and slump buster have been more consistently producing fish over large articulated streamers like dungeons or laser sculpins.

In general the fishing is outstanding wherever you end up so just make sure you get out and take advantage of it while the weather is still relatively warm!