Fall Fly Fishing

As summer turns to autumn, Daniel, Wyoming transforms into a landscape of gold, orange and crimson fall foliage. The air is crisp and invigorating, and the sky is bright blue with unique and colorful cloud formations like none you’ve ever seen.

The Green River cools down and its clear waters reflect the stunning backdrop of the surrounding mountains. This season is particularly special for fly fishing - brown trout begin their pre-spawn feeding frenzy, aggressively pursuing food to build up their strength for winter. You can expect to see these magnificent fish displaying their vivid spawning colors, adding an extra layer of excitement to each catch.

Top reasons to fish with us this Fall:

✓ Fewer people: The summer crowds have left, making fall a productive time to fish. Enjoy quieter with more space to cast your line.

✓ Cooler temperatures: Colder temperatures make trout more active and aggressive and create comfortable conditions for fishing. With the beauty of a fall day on the water, sometimes catching a fish is just a bonus in this picturesque setting.

✓ Optimal Trout Activity: As temperatures cool, trout become more active and begin to feed aggressively in preparation for winter. This increased activity makes fall an ideal time to catch both brown and rainbow trout, especially as they fatten up before spawning.

✓ Trophy trout: Fall is known for producing larger trout as they prepare for spawning. The Green River is home to trophy-sized fish during this time, giving you a chance to land impressive catches.

✓ Diverse Fishing Techniques: Fall allows for a variety of fishing techniques to be effective. You can use dry flies, nymphs, and streamers.

✓ Prolific Hatches: Autumn brings significant hatches, including Blue Wing Olives and Tricos, fantastic for dry fly fishing.

A man is sitting in a boat on the shore of a lake at sunset.

A sunset over a grassy field with mountains in the background.

Fall’s Unique Wildlife Encounters

Fall is also a great time for wildlife viewing in Wyoming. As animals prepare for winter, you might spot migrating elk, deer, or even eagles hunting along the banks of Jemas Ranch’s waters.

Elk, Moose & Mule Deer

Large herds of elk begin migrating to lower elevation to be closer to winter food sources. You’ll also spot plenty of moose around town. Pinedale and Daniel, Wyoming have what the locals refer to as “city moose.” They aren’t aggressive towards humans but are known to eat a lot of residents’ shrubs! Mule deer are also plant eaters and are plentiful on the ranch and around town.

Pronghorn Antelopes

If you time your visit right, you may witness the pronghorn migration. This biannual journey starts in mid-October and 300-400 pronghorn antelope cross over two wildlife overpasses on US Highway 191, including the Trapper's Point wildlife overpass in Pinedale, very close to Jemas Ranch. Even if you don’t get to see it in person, you can still view the migration online on The Trapper's Point overpass webcam.

Bighorn Sheep

For wildlife that’s a little farther away, a three-hour drive will get you to the other side of the Wind River Range where bighorn sheep are grazing. In mid-September, they begin migrating down from higher elevation and in the fall, you’ll find a herd in Dubois, Wyoming.

This diverse array of wildlife makes fall an exceptional time for nature enthusiasts in Wyoming. As day turns to dusk, the river takes on a magical quality. The setting sun casts a golden glow over the water, creating an enchanting atmosphere perfect for reflection and appreciation of nature's beauty.