September has arrived, and cooler nights are changing things up. On the Madison, Yellowstone, and Bitterroot, trout are more active again during mid-day. Hopper-dropper rigs are still solid, but blue-winged olives are starting to show on cloudy days, giving fly anglers some bonus dry-fly action.
Fort Peck is steady for walleye and smallmouth, though most are hanging deep. Slow-trolled crankbaits or crawler rigs are working well. Canyon Ferry is kicking out a mixed bag of walleye and perch, especially near weed lines. Tongue River Reservoir is still a solid option for crappie.
Up high, mountain lakes are cooling down fast. Brookies and cutthroat are aggressive before the snow starts creeping back into the forecast. September is transition season, and fishing is improving each week as water temps drop.
