5/22/2026 – Happy (kind of) opening day! The stretch below Fall River Falls is now open for angling, which will hopefully spread out crowds on–what is sure to be–this busy Memorial Day Weekend.
PMDs have been popping off consistently around noon with a smattering of caddis mixed in. The green drakes have been hatching in good numbers as well. I really like fishing smaller drakes on the Fall as I’ve found them to be a bit weary of the bigger ones. Right now, Trina’s Carnage Drake and Jake’s Hatchback Drake are my favorites. You can also never go wrong with Wulff.
In terms of nymphs, the normal stuff is working well. Jig-style nymphs like the Spanish Bullet and RIO’s May It Be are working well. White streamers have been whacking fish and smaller streamers like Woolly Buggers and Thin Mints are receiving attention, too. For other fly recommendations, consult last week’s report.
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5/15/2026 – There is plenty on the menu at Fall River right now! The caddis hatch has been really, really solid. Most of these bugs seems to be size #14-16 in tan and olive. Try Mercer’s Missing Link or the Front End Loader if you happen to have any in your box. I also really like Keller’s Rage Cage Caddis in tan.
PMDs are also hanging around, which is always nice. Para-Wulffs, Comparaduns, and Tilt Wing Duns tend to be my first three up during a PMD hatch.
Still no drakes to be found, but that should change soon! Make sure you’ve got a few in your box anyway.
Nymphing has been productive (as per usual). Perdigons have been by far the biggest success story of the week. Tiny Frenchies, France Flies, Holo-Point Jigs, Pearl Perdigons, and Newbury’s Alt Rocker. I also really like the smallest Jig Split Case, as well as the normal Split Case (Top) PMD, and Juan’s Splitack Shady as always.
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5/8/2026 – The whole of the Fall River has been fishing well this past week (save for below the falls, which doesn’t open for another two weeks)! Anglers are reporting success on ants and beetles near the headwaters, while their “sunken” counterparts have also received some attention.
Nymphs to try: Lighting Bugs (#16-20), Hilbert’s Day Saver (PMD = #14-16, BWO = #18-20), Juan’s Splitback Shady (#20-22), the Jujubee Midge, and the Beadhead WD-40 (or unweighted if dropped below a heavier weighted nymph). My flies from last week also still apply.
Crowds have been less as of late, so now might be a good time to get out there!
On the surface, BWOs and PMDs are the main attraction.
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5/1/2026 – Similar to the Crooked River, olive caddis have been starting to pop off a good bit on the Fall. Like my last report, BWOs and PMDs are still there to be found. Emergers have been getting the most love, while dries are by and large being ignored.
Subsurface action has continued to heat up with midges still being the main part of their diet. Before I ever worked here at CFS, I always joked that guides on the Fall River have one secret fly: the Zebra Midge. For that reason, I never fished Zebra Midges on the Fall (just to be a contrarian). I have now succumbed to the truth, which is that they just work so well. I find it rather frustrating to be totally honest, but boy do they work.
Other midges: Bling Midge, Manhattan Midge, Top Secret Midge, Demon Midge, Craven’s Lil Bit, and any other size #20-22 midge with (preferably) a tungsten bead.
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4/22/2026 – BWOs and some PMDs have been hanging around lately, bringing with them some good dry fly action for those who are interested. Bucky’s ICU Baetis, the Almost Dun, the Parachute BWO, and the Split or Sparkle Flag in size #18-20. For PMDs, I like the Tilt Wing Dun, Comparaduns, and Sparkle Duns.
In terms of nymphs, Daniel’s Sunburst Jig, Spanish Bullets, eggs, leeches (black, wine, olive), Zebra Midges, Holo Point Jigs, and even little Duracell nymphs will do well.
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4/17/2026 – People are reportedly seeing a few March Browns flying around, but nothing too crazy. There have continued to be some BWOs and midges flying around–especially near the Headwaters.
Nymphs are still greatly outfishing bugs on the surface. Fullback Napoleons (black), Hot-bead Spanish Bullets, normal Spanish Bullets, Daniel’s Sunburst Perdigon (the brown one not the yellow one), Splitback PMDs, and really anything small and olive.
There haven’t been many caddis yet, but that should changing pretty soon here. Make sure you have some olive and some brown caddis just in case.
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4/10/2026 – Alright! Fishing on the Fall is starting to pick up significantly. While BWOs and midges make up the vast majority of adult bugs flying around, any suggestive looking mayfly pattern could fool a fish. Another bug I’d like to call out is the Fat Angie.
Nymphing will continue to produce the most fish: Jujubaetis, Twistr Eggs, Hogan’s S & M nymph, and the Jig Spicy Squirrel are a few patterns to try. A classic Hare’s Ear or Pheasant Tail also shouldn’t be overlooked!
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3/27/2026 – We are pretty much in the dog days of fishing on the Fall River. It hasn’t been stocked in months, the fish have seen a million flies each and probably been caught a few times, too. They have become quite weary and pretty spooky. I have heard very few positive reports to be perfectly honest.
There could be some BWOs and/or midges flying around, though you’ll need to size down your flies a good amount if you want a chance at enticing one to the surface.
Nymphs that work best: Radiation Baetis (#20-22), Jujubaetis (purple or camo), Twistr Eggs, Panty Droppers (PMD or BWO-flavored).
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3/3/2026 – Streamers and leeches have been working especially well the past week or so on the Fall. The streamer game is never a consistent one on the Fall, but it really can be productive. I like small Clousers, minnow patterns, and anything small and black.
Make sure you don’t forget your small jig-style nymphs! Jig Napoleons, Fullback Napoleons, baetis imitations, and anything purple will do well.
We might see a decent BWO or midge hatch a bit of overcast weather in the forecast. Emergers could be the ticket if you see fish moving up and down in the water column but not all the way to the surface.
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2/13/2026 – The Fall has fished decently over the past week or so. It hasn’t been too busy–especially by the Tubes and the Guard Station. Fish have been rising to Tricos and BWO cripples and emergers, though not with a ton of consistency.
As per usual, nymphing is still the name of the game. The Juju Baetis, Radiation Baetis, and Panty Dropper Baetis are all quite effective. I also like the Rainbow Warrior, a purple Zebra Midge, the Split Top PMD and Juan’s Splitback Shady.
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1/30/2026 – To be totally transparent, the Fall has not fished well over the past week. That being said, I heard a few good reports yesterday, so it might be heating back up.
Other than nymphing, stripping small streamers can be pretty effective this time of year. With a highly pressured fishery like the Fall River, I often find that showing them something different will elicit a reaction strike–especially from the bigger fish.
I have heard of an BWO hatch popping off around 11am-12pm, though only on the most overcast of days. Overall, I would said the Fall is worth a shot, but it might take a bit to figure out what they are keying in on.
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1/22/2026 – Gosh, I apologize to all of those who have been waiting on a fishing report for the Fall. Somehow the last two I have written have both been deleted!
Anywho, the Fall is still fairly spotty, but anglers fishing BWO dries and emergers have reported having luck on the surface; as have anglers fishing Spinner-patterns. I love the RS2 and Bucky’s ICU Baetis for the former, and the Rusty Spinner for the latter.
PMD nymphs have been working especially well, as have purple Beadhead Pheasant Tails and other PT variations. Small Perdigons and eggs will also be sure to turn some heads. Don’t be afraid to fish small! As long as you can tie it on, it is big enough and the fish will have little issue picking out.
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1/1/2026 – The Fall has been very hit or miss lately, but mostly miss, unfortunately. Anglers headed that way should be prepared with the usual arsenal of midges, baetis, eggs, leeches, and perdigons.
Dry-fly action has been near non-existent, but tricos and No-See-Ums may entice a fish enough to get it to make the laborious journey up through the water column.
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12/5/25 – As with the Crooked, extremely little has changed on the Fall River in the past few weeks. I would only like to add that egg patterns also work on the Fall River, despite the fact very few fish (if any) are spawning above the falls. Regardless, they eat them.
