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Trout. Most Novembers begin cloudy and maybe wet, and this shift can create good fishing and little pressure for the first half of the month. However, if we have an extended cold spell, trout will hole-up and it could be mid-February before they begin to stir again. Also, very rainy weather will render rivers high and muddy. Under those conditions, trout will be reluctant to rise to a dry fly, but might be enticed by a small nymph and/or San Juan Worm presented near the bottom in slower water.
Other than a few caddis species and the ever-present midges, the dominant insect activity in November is blue-winged olives. They will mount some kind of hatch every afternoon. The strongest hatches will be on cloudy days with a little drizzle. Some trout will be interested, many others won't want to know about it.
When there is a hatch of blue-winged olives, I reach for a size 18 Sparkle Dun or Baetis Cripple, generally the former. Spinner falls are sometimes important in winter, so carry a couple of Rusty Spinners. Most blue-wings will be size 18.
Nymphing is generally more reliable than waiting for a hatch of blue-wings. A good nymph pattern for the fall blue-winged olive season is a size 18 dark Gold-Ribbed Hares Ear. The gold ribbing on the Hares Ear mimics the light and dark segments on the abdomen of a dominant BWO for this time of year. Pheasant Tails work, too. Either way, present the fly near the bottom.
As the weather and water settle to a low temperature, the best trout and whitefish fishing will be between 10:00 a.m.and 2:00 p.m. (standard time).
Late in the month, whitefish could begin spawning. Trout will hang below the whitefish and scarf down drifting roe, so a small Egg Fly in is a good choice; drift it near the bottom. See the article Egg Flies for tips and patterns to imitate eggs.
Most chinook salmon are done spawning, but there may be a few late-bloomers and some coho who are still at it. If so, leave them alone. You might, however, try drifting an Egg Fly on the bottom below them. Trout will eat their roe, too.
You may run into some remnant October caddis early in the month, if the day is on the warm side. You may also encounter the end of the mahogany dun hatch and the ever present midges. Midges will be small this month--size 20-22.
Steelhead. Steelheading will depend on water temperature and rain. Check the river levels: sudden surges will dampen the fishing, and very high water will make the rivers too muddy for fly fishing (wade in up to your knees; if you can't see your boots, go home).
Summer steelhead, will remain active right through the end of the year. They're still considered summer steelhead if they entered freshwater in summer--even if there are icicles hanging off your nose when you fish for them.
When fishing for steelhead this month, pay close attention to the water temperature. That will inform your choice of fly line--sink-tip vs. floater--and that choice can be crucial to your success. For some good advice, see the Ask the Pros article Sink-Tip or Floating Line?.
When the water turns consistently cold, steelhead will be reluctant to move very far for a fly. Under those circumstances you'll need to pack a sink-tip line and present the fly more slowly (and in somewhat slower water) than you did in summer. Indicator tactics are also effective.
No matter where you go at this time of year, take a change of clothes. When you do a slam dunk into water that's 45 degrees, and the air is about the same temperature (with a bit of a wind), you don't want to be 10 miles from the nearest dry, warm clothing. Pack some extra gear on the trip. It could help you avoid a heap of discomfort, and may even save your life.
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