Eagle River

The Eagle River is settling comfortably into fall. The water is cool and clear, and trout feel the shift in light and insect activity. In the morning, fish remain deep in runs and seams; a micro-nymph rig fished cleanly will often get the first bites. As the day warms, trout expand into softer currents and edges, sipping emergers and BWOs. This is your prime dry-dropper window—but drift quality is essential. If surface activity dies, shift to emergers or soft-hackles just under the film. Toward evening, trout move back toward structure—under cuts, seams near boulders, and bank edges. Use slim streamers fished with subtle motion to entice strikes. Browns often key on these transitional prey opportunities. Trout now act more opportunistically. They rotate among depth zones, seams, and edges based on drift, light, and hatch activity. Don't linger too long on one approach. Probe regularly and stay adaptive.