The concept of the “fall feed bag” permeates fishing media. It’s so prevalent that it’s conditioned anglers to suppose that come autumn, all of the fish are gorging themselves in preparation for winter. To take it a step additional, many individuals imagine that this frequent false impression makes fall the most effective time to catch huge fish and plenty of them. To be truthful, this rings true for lots of species, particularly in lakes or reservoirs that have little or no change in water stage. However moving-water fish are completely different, and in terms of brown trout particularly, the “fall feed bag” is extra hype than actuality.
Within the flyfishing world particularly, fall is considered “streamer season”—the time when wild browns shed all inhibition and recklessly gobble up as many creek chubs and child trout as they will. The hype will be so overblown that you would be led to imagine they lose all curiosity in additional frequent meals like aquatic larvae. Now, that’s to not say huge browns don’t get fooled by 6-plus-inch streamers and equally lengthy jerkbaits this time of yr…nevertheless it actually has little to do with the season.
My good friend and 15-year Montana information, Miles Nolte, has chased trout all around the world. Now, he lives and fishes in New Zealand, house of a few of the greatest—and most difficult—trout fishing on the earth. I just lately interviewed him on the Fast Strike podcast and his insights on the “streamer season” delusion is not going to solely assist you catch extra trout year-round however make you a ringer within the fall even when these huge streamers gained’t get it completed.
Neglect the Calendar
Fish don’t know what seasons are, not less than not the way in which we take into consideration them. Their lives and behaviors are dictated by three key issues—water situations, temperature, and the quantity of each day daylight. All fish alter their routine based mostly on how these components change, however in terms of huge, sensible fish in shifting water, I’d argue that nothing dictates their willingness to hammer huge lures and flies greater than water stage and coloration. That is very true of untamed brown trout.
“When flows come up, there’s much more water shifting and much more meals shifting,” says Nolte. “All of the smaller fish that had their protected spot form of staked out get moved round. So, when the water comes up, the large fish, medium fish, and little fish find yourself occupying the identical areas as a result of the situations don’t give them many choices. They’re typically all pushed into these slower pockets collectively. And what do you suppose the large fish are doing after they’re shoulder to shoulder with the little fish?”
If it’s huge hits on huge lures and flies you need, larger, stained water will present the most effective repair. Nolte factors to “minty inexperienced” water as his favourite. This happens typically out West after a freestone river blows out utterly, after which begins to drop. Off-color water additionally makes huge fish much less cautious and, due to this fact, faster to make huge strikes they wouldn’t in any other case make. However the backside line is that these are the proper situations for aggressive shows all yr lengthy.
When are they most typical? Through the spring. But when your river experiences them within the fall, that’s nice. “Streamer season” loses its magic in a short time, although, in the event you’re coping with low, clear water, which is frequent in autumn all through a lot of the nation. Due to this fact, monitoring movement information on-line for the rivers you fish is essential. By doing so, you’ll be capable of pinpoint the most effective instances to throw huge flies and lures all year long.
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Hunt the Quick Lane
Do trout really eat extra within the fall? It’s up for debate however based mostly on anecdotal observations throughout his a few years of guiding, Nolte doesn’t imagine so (and neither do I). Whereas fashionable fishing media is telling you to go greater and badder this time of yr, each of our experiences dictate the other—assuming rain or different components aren’t creating these good big-fly situations.
The place I reside within the Northeast, October and November water situations typically appear to be August and September water situations. Sure, they’re cooler, however they’re gin clear and gradual pockets and eddies are sometimes lined in floating leaves. A typical observe underneath these situations is to focus on the deep, darkish holes scattered between the low, clear riffles. However Nolte factors out that doing so doesn’t make sticking huge trout on huge choices any simpler.
“A giant gap would possibly look actually attractive,” he says. “You’re questioning what beasts lurk in there? However these holes are additionally very gradual shifting. The fish in them have plenty of look time, and people holes get hit typically. A greater wager can be concentrating on the underside ends of the quickest whitewater you could find. Out West, when the water is basically low in the summertime, that’s the place I throw huge streamers. Individuals don’t even suppose trout would maintain there, however they do as a result of it’s effectively oxygenated. Then, when a baitfish or your streamer swings by, they don’t have time to suppose. They only eat.”
Take into account that a giant gap is likely to be the place a giant trout lives, however not essentially the place it eats all its meals. A fish tight to the financial institution is on the lookout for meals and best streamer situations put them there. If the banks are low and would expose the fish, they merely gained’t be on the banks.
Small Steps
Among the finest issues about best streamer situations is that they will let you land heavy fish extra constantly. You probably have stained water you don’t want to fret an excessive amount of about trout being spooky, so you may get away with utilizing heavier strains and leaders. Approaching less-than-ideal situations with beefed up deal with, nonetheless, could be a recipe for failure. Even when the water is low and clear, you may expertise unbelievable fishing in the event you play your playing cards proper.
“All through most of my guiding profession, fall fishing meant downsizing,” says Nolte. “You’re utilizing delicate leaders and smaller flies, however the fish will eat.”
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One good thing about low, clear fall water is that it exposes meals sources that aren’t as simple to capitalize on throughout larger water intervals. Crayfish are a first-rate instance. When the water is up or off-color, they will transfer between the rocks on the underside and stay largely undetected, however not when the water’s low and clear. As a substitute of attempting to attract an aggression strike out of a big brown that has its guard up because of the situations, downsizing to a crayfish fly or mild crayfish gentle plastic can really rating you a trophy quicker than “chucking the meat.”