AUTUMN - THE STABLE SEASON
Autumn is bring it’s usual stability, which means boredom for the fly fishing report. Nothing really changes during the fall, other than things only get a bit better every day from mid-September through Thanksgiving. Nymphing can be better one fall than another, and hatches are dependent on flows and weather. But both will provide ‘good’ fishing at the least. Most of our guides would say things have been OK this early autumn. Which means ‘good” to most folks. Some days have been great, others not so much. Our guides have been fully booked lately, and I haven’t heard anyone complaining.
Hatches are always the same. Trico’s, but probably not enough to create big pods. Pseudos, and the strange behavior that they can cause with feeding fish. Those little brown caddis that get a slittle stronger every fall. Mark likes to skitter his pattern this time of year - watch the river and you’ll see why. And of course localized Callibaetis hatches. BWO’s are a ways off not matter what you want to tell yourself.
Weeds are always a nuisance late in the year. This year hasn’t been horrible, but fluctuations at Holter Dam can create drifting weeds that make fishing tough, at least in certain areas. And water temperatures remain warm in September. Nightime lows are the key, so if you’re looking for clues from the weather channel, ignore the daytime highs. Look for those nighttime lows dipping well down into the 40’s. That’s what we want. When they dip into the 30’s you can start to look for BWO’s.
Brown Trout often disappear sometime from late-September through early-November… time to breed. But until they do, the Missouri can offer up some incredible streamer fishing. Most anglers don’t consider it, due to high and bright sunny conditions, combined with drifting weeds. Drifting weeds are no fun to pull a streamer through, but you can always find a stretch - or at least some banks - that are generally weed free. The water below Lone Pine Rapids (launch at Preset Creek) is often relatively weed-free. Does the rapid grind them up? Nobody knows.
I was out testing some new spey line/rod combinations last week (more on that later), and found the fish to be shockingly receptive to swung flies, despite the drifting weeds. Testing 2 weights, I was swinging a Carrey Special - simply because it’s a good average representation of what I might through on a 2 weight - and hooked and landed a few. Maybe for a Damsel or Dragonfly nymph? I’d give anyone looking for info on current trout spey conditions a heads up about the weeds, but the water is low and the fish are receptive, and you can find sections and runs to swing. If I was serious about the fishing this week, I’d probably head for the fastest big riffles with a Skagit/sink tip rig and a bright, flashy streamer. And heavy tippet. Your toughest decision will be whether to wear waders or not?
Feels like fall for sure, but the classic autumn fishing is still a few weeks off, so be patient. September is still summer anymore. Streamer mornings followed by dry fly afternoons are yet to come.
Mark is off chasing Atlantic Salmon and Coasters in Eastern Canada, and will return at some point. Until then, good luck and enjoy what looks to be some fantastic weather upcoming.