The long weekend after Thanksgiving might be the quietest fishing of the year — most folks are still full of turkey or chasing elk, leaving the rivers wide open. The Madison, Yellowstone, and Missouri are running cold but clear, with steady action on small nymphs and midges. Rainbows are active mid-day, especially when the sun hits the riffles.
Fort Peck and Canyon Ferry anglers are starting to see some skim ice in the mornings, but open-water walleye are still possible for those willing to brave it. A few diehards are already testing early ice in sheltered coves — use caution and check thickness before stepping out.
It’s officially that weird time between open water and hardwater. If you like solitude and don’t mind numb fingers, November fishing still has its rewards.
