Fall In Love With Autumn Fishing

By Sheila Lee

Autumn is a beautiful and colorful time of the year. Pleasant Fall days quickly turn into cool, crisp nights. It’s a time for enjoying camp fires, wearing sweaters, eating s’mores and drinking warm apple cider by the fire.  And especially catching big trout!

Fall fishing is what my husband and I look forward to as the busy trout fishing season in Missouri comes to an end. The crowds die down and we can spend time together enjoying an even more peaceful fishing experience. I love not worrying about being crowded out of my favorite fishing spots.

WATER CONDITIONS

The water in the fall is low and clear, making fish easy to see. Brown trout are getting ready to spawn and become more aggressive while rainbows are energized by the colder water and less wary of approaching anglers. Best of all, almost every species of trout in the water is feeling the oncoming winter and will begin to gorge themselves on anything and everything!

Water temperatures are still warm and oxygen levels are lower in early fall, so concentrate on areas with the strongest current to find the most active trout.

WHAT IS THE BEST FLY FOR TROUT IN THE FALL?

The October caddis is a big bug that draws big trout to the surface. When the bug’s hatch is in full swing, tie on a caddis pattern in a size 20 dry fly. Overall, insect hatches are fewer in number and the bugs are smaller during autumn. The most abundant insects throughout the fall are blue-winged olive mayflies and midges so you need to match the hatch by tying on flies ranging from size 18 down to size 24.

In rivers that have a lot of spawning trout, fishing eggs or egg sacs can also be a good option.

Bugs like grasshoppers, ladybugs, beetles, and ants are plentiful in the fall and frequently land in the water.  These insects are prized food for the trout in early fall until the first hard freeze kills them. Fish bug imitators close to the water’s edge for best results.

MATCH THE HATCH

On those particularly warm sunny Fall days pay attention to the bugs that hatch late in the morning and afternoon.  Try to pick a fly with the same colors and size.  Sometimes I don’t even realize a hatch has occurred until I walk into a cloud of tiny bugs flying around. Nothing like getting a bug in my mouth by accident. But at least then I can examine it and determine what fly to cast!

LINE

Trout become line shy in the clear water so you should use a low visibility line, 2-4-pound test.  I recommend fluorocarbon for subsurface flies and monofilament for dry flies. 

HUNTING TROUT?

Yes, trout and other fish can see what’s going on above the surface of the water.  So sneak up on trout like a hunter by wearing clothing that blends in with your surroundings.  Camo or natural colors are best.  Wade slowly and when you think you are moving slowly enough slow down even more.  If you are making ripples in the water then you are moving too fast.  Cast upstream to prevent spooking the fish.  Rarely are trout or other fish facing downstream.  So if you approach from upstream they will be alerted to your presence.

HOW TO DRESS FOR FALL FISHING

Fall trout fishing means cooler fishing conditions. You must dress for the cold weather appropriately to stay warm and dry. You need a good pair of fishing gloves with a wool blend, headwear, cold weather footwear including wool socks, and rain gear for wet conditions. There are multiple layers for cold weather fishing, a base layer, mid layer, and outer shell.

For the base layer focus on moisture management. Your base layer should be lightweight and moisture wicking like wool or wool synthetic blend.  Technical fabrics like Under Armour are another great option.

Mid-layer means insulation. This layer helps to keep you as warm as possible by trapping pockets of air and using your own body heat to keep you warm throughout the day. For example, puffy style down filled jackets and vests.

Outerwear is your protection against the elements. Weather protection needs to be waterproof or water resistant for rain, snow and wind.  Weather can change quickly.  And a light breeze can turn into a bitter wind with little warning.

Weather can ruin a great day of fishing if you are not prepared properly.

You could also add battery-operated heated coats, or vest, socks or gloves if you really want to go all out!

THE BOTTOM LINE

No one knows me as well as my husband, Justin. He knows that the bottom line is that I don’t like to be cold! If you follow these rules of thumb, you will stay warm!

I recommend thinking twice about hanging up those waders when the tree leaves start to change to rainbows of red, orange and brown!  That’s when the fun really begins! And maybe you will Fall in love with Autumn fishing too!