Perhaps the best stretch lies hidden in the lava rock and sagebrush desert south of Carey in the Taylor "Bear Tracks" Williams Recreation Area. Real trophy browns, some exceeding 5 pounds, await anglers willing to abide the fly-only, catch-and-release regulations. Right now, large hoppers and other substantial offerings are primo for tempting those trophies.

If brown trout and spring creeks are your bag, check out the Fort Hall Bottoms on the Fort Hall Reservation.

You need a tribal permit to fish there. Permits are available in Fort Hall, 10 miles north of Pocatello of Interstate 15.

Several spring creeks hold decent browns, but the real pigs hang out at the lower ends of Spring and Jimmy creeks. In the fall, browns run up the creeks from the Snake River, adding to the creeks' appeal.

Billingsley Creek, at its namesake state park near Hagerman, is another brown trout hotspot in a spring creek setting. It's actually two waters: the creek itself and Fisher Lake, a small spring-fed impoundment.

The lake and the part of the creek run through a marsh and make for difficult wading. Bring a float tube, small skiff or canoe.

MONTANA
The Stillwater River is one of Montana's best-kept secrets. Some call it "The last best river in the last best place." A tributary of the Yellowstone, the Stillwater begins in the Yellowstone backcountry and flows north to Columbus, through the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.

This is brook and rainbow country. Below the Wilderness, the river mellows, and browns take over. Some surpass the coveted 20-inch mark.

In September, anglers can expect to find large sections empty of competition -- and browns hungry to get in shape for the upcoming spawn. These opportunist trout attack anything remotely resembling good eats, including high-floating dry flies --hoppers, stimulators, tarantulas and such.

Because of drought and over-apportioned water rights, the Jefferson River is sort of an iffy call, come autumn. It's good in the wet years, but otherwise not so hot. But usually -- sometime in September -- the river climbs out its summer doldrums. Fishing picks up for the big browns the river is famous for.

Never crowded, the Jeff is home to some real whoppers. Rumors abound of lucky souls hanging dream-fish of double-digit poundage.

One day last September, we floated the upper river. It was just starting to recover from the ravages of yet another long, hot, dry summer. Between the two of us, we landed six browns -- the smallest about 17 inches, and the largest just shy of 2 feet!

But that was par for the river and season. Four of them ate streamers, while two preferred hoppers.

The Marias River, below Tiber Reservoir (also called Lake Elwell), is really off the beaten path. And not many anglers are willing to brave the gumbo-laden roads and two-tracks to get there. But trust me, this one is worth a little pain. Three pounds is common. Five pounds is not rare, and 10 pounds is not out the question. Need I say more?

This is not the place to test-drive that new 2-weight. Day-in and day-out, buggers, leeches, Clousers and Double Bunnies get top honors.

September is typically hot, dry and dusty, and the hoppers are thick.

Hint, hint!

NEVADA
I doubt Nevada appears on too many "Places to Fish for Brown Trout Before I Die" lists. But if you find yourself here, perhaps panting for a little brownie action -- well, believe it or not . . .

Brown trout, the biggest over 25 pounds (Yes, that's a 2 and a 5, and pounds), are a large part of a mixed bag at Ruby Lake on the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Largemouth bass, rainbow and brook trout are other possibilities. Ruby "Lake" is sort of a misnomer, since it's made up of some 9,000 acres of lakes, ponds and waterways within a natural spring-fed, high-elevation marsh.

Some of it is wadeable, but much isn't. Float tubes, small skiffs and canoes are de rigueur.

Cave Lake browns spawn in Cave Creek. With the first cool nights of September, browns begin staging. And fishing -- especially early and late in the day -- picks up big time around the inlet and in the creek.

On average, the browns run about a foot, but occasionally some real busters show up. A prime example is the current state record: 27 pounds, 5 ounces. Four- and 5-pounders show up with fair regularity.

Other waters worth a shot are the Truckee, East Walker, Carson, South Humboldt and North Little Humboldt rivers, Kingston and Martin creeks.