Fall Fishing Outlook

[Brian Wise]

A picture is worth a thousand words....

With a LOT of the canoe traffic slowing down, the nights cooling off, and already some leaves changing color it is time to look at the outlook for fall fishing. Besides, when you see temps in the high 40's in late August--you can't help but to look forward to fall fishing.

Usually when we think of fall fishing we think about water levels being low and crystal clear, not so much this year. We had a great summer with water levels staying as close to the 60 year average as we have seen in a while so the low and clear water we usually have this time of year really isn't there. With an above average prediction for rainfall in September we are looking (and hoping) for water levels to do very well.

With the water levels being higher than they typically are this time of year we are taking full advantage of it, we are still fishing bigger flies, and above that we are still getting away with heavier tippet. You see, the peak of the colors changing is pretty close to the peak of the brown trout movement as they get started in their spawn....which makes using 4x tippet to any given nymph and 3x + on streamers incredibly helpful and landing any "pig" you happen to hook--we like that

Finding the fish is usually pretty easy in the Fall. The deeper tailouts and deeper riffles are the go-to without a doubt. I have said it a thousand times but it demands to be said again, if you see a drop-off fish it HARD, especially in a faster running tailout. While nymphing, nymph DEEP (another thing I can't stress enough) lose flies! If you are a fan of stripping streamers jump all over ANY chance you get this fall...basically any low-light situation be it early morning, late evening, cloudy, rainy--all of this equals good stuff for streamers. Be aggressive with it, if I am personally stripping streamers for fishing I am not going to mess around--give me big and nasty and I'll strip it back like my life depends on it, unless the fish tell me otherwise.

The most beautiful time of year equals awesome fishing....even if the fishing is tough.

Brian Wise

Head Guide

River of Life Farm

www.riveroflifefarm.com

[Zack Hoyt]

Without giving away any trade secrets............do you alter your flies for the fall season? I know some bugs can tend to be a tad larger as well as sclupins, crawfish, etc and different color. Do you find a change in color selection or pattern helps at all? I have wondered since alot of the bugs have such a short lifespan(a few days at most), do they tend to change for the fall or do you keep fishing the tried and true.

Thanks for the outlook. Hope you can sneak away to Conclave.

[Brian Wise]

Hey Zack,

Most of the time the color changes I make with the bigger flies come with water level changes. Smaller flies are about the only thing we change much and the change with color usually comes with the change in which Mayfly is most prominant....but mayflies aren't a staple of mine anyway--tried and true is usually the ticket.

Already booked up for conclave, I NEVER get to get down there....

Brian

[Terry Beeson]

Dang, Brian... we're gonna have to get you to do a program on ROLF and the NFW next year at Conclave... Then you'll HAVE to attend...

[Brian Wise]

Let me know Terry, I do programs all over....it would sure be nice to do one that close!!

Brian

[Oldschoolcane]

Brian, hows the water lately?

Tim

[Brian Wise]

Hey Tim,

The water is great.

Here is the link to the USGS site:

USGS Real Time Flows for the North Fork of the White River

Which will give you this:

Brian