Fall is with us now. The first frosts have arrived. The summer foliage is changing its greens to fall colors. Best of all, the fish are in a mood to feed through most of the day time periods---which is very typical for this time of the year.
This past two weeks, l have fished the entire White river system from BSD down to Sylamore, working with the irregular flow patterns we have seen here of late.
Zero generations on the White and the odd few hours on the Norfork have indeed resulted in some up and down activity with the fish. They have had to deal with both extreme lows and then rising trashy water. The falling leaves have further aggravated anglers more so than the fish.
Understanding how water levels relate to best options for the day's fishing is an important consideration.
Some of the zones l fished this past week during zero flows held hundreds of fish congregated into comfort zones that provided both depth and oxygenated water. Naturally the fishing was rather easy as those fish were hungry. Hundred fish days were common place, which l have to admit at times is rather boring.
I was happy to see at least three Bows over twenty inches and a fish of four pounds twelve ounces, which is a rarity these days.
The vast majority of Browns that have already spawned, or are in the process, are within their own zones. I was very happy to see many redds way down through the White river system, and many good fish staged in those zones. Fortunately for those fish, they are more or less left alone in peace while they do spawn, and are not subject to being disturbed by wading anglers.
There will certainly be some natural reproduction with those guys.
OK, now for the fishing tactics.
Fall does provide some of the best fishing options throughout the year and provide fly fishers many options of choice. Tailwater and high water will differ.
Low water provides options for dry fly, nymph, emergers, and light line tactics. High colored water is another matter, depending on the trash it carries.
Typically we see low temps, frost and fog until the day warms up. So too will water surface temperature and that will induce fish to move and feed more aggressively. This is true, particularly as the last hour of daylight before the setting sun reduces the atmospheric temperature. This, in turn, reduces surface temperature-to which trout are very sensitive.
Best approach early on is to fish with dead drift techniques. As the day temps rise, then fish will more likely respond to tactics such as fishing with soft hackles, streamers and even dry flys, which have been pretty good this past week mid-afternoon to dusk..
In low water situations as you would find on the Norfork, you should see some activity to chironomids, both pupa and emergers of interest, and may be some BWO, along with the micro caddis. Same also on the White if you are in the right zones.
In high clear water, fish early on with slow dead drift techniques. As the day warms up, so the fish will be more inclined to move and take both streamers, wet and soft hackles fished within the water column.
High colored and trashy water can be a tough call at times---no doubt of that. You should, as a rule, fish fly patterns the fish can see. You have many options here from San Juan worms, to eggs to marabou jigs. Choice of color can make a great deal of difference here; so you do have to find the right one, and that may also change through the day.
Techniques best used are dead drifts, which reduce the aggravation of having trash collect around the leader and also the fly. Stripping flies through trashy water is not a good choice here, unless you can find some clean backwater situations.
Consider also at this time of the year the relative angle of the sun to the horizon. It is very different to the high summer period. The old adage of bright day bright fly and dark day dull fly is in many cases very true. The difference between a silver bodied or a gold bodied fly can really make the difference.
Flies that contain an over-all black tone may not work as well as those of lighter shades when the sun is high and the water clear.
My choices for our rivers at this time are primarily chironomid patterns in different sizes and color conformations. They will work 90% of the time, at least for dead drift techniques.
Other than that, l would never be without a Whickhams fancy and a black and silver spider or the gold version of that fly, along with my muddler daddy. These are deadly flies to use when the fish will move and take flies fished high on the surface.
As yet, we have seen no sign of Shad in the rivers, It can happen anytime; so be prepared for that one. Contrary to belief, it is not always related to when we have lake temps in the low 40's ! I have seen that happen in August.
OK, guys, have good fishing this month.
Davy.
