The idea of the “fall feed bag” permeates fishing media. It’s so prevalent that it’s conditioned anglers to suppose that come autumn, the entire fish are gorging themselves in preparation for winter. To take it a step further, many people think about that this frequent misunderstanding makes fall the proper time to catch massive fish and loads of them. To be sincere, this rings true for plenty of species, significantly in lakes or reservoirs which have little or no change in water stage. Nonetheless moving-water fish are completely completely different, and referring to brown trout significantly, the “fall feed bag” is further hype than actuality.
Throughout the flyfishing world significantly, fall is considered “streamer season”—the time when wild browns shed all inhibition and recklessly gobble up as many creek chubs and baby trout as they will. The hype shall be so overblown that you would presumably be led to think about they lose all curiosity in further frequent meals like aquatic larvae. Now, that’s to not say massive browns don’t get fooled by 6-plus-inch streamers and equally prolonged jerkbaits this time of yr…but it surely absolutely really has little to do with the season.
My buddy and 15-year Montana info, Miles Nolte, has chased trout in every single place on the planet. Now, he lives and fishes in New Zealand, home of some of the best—and most tough—trout fishing on this planet. I simply recently interviewed him on the Quick Strike podcast and his insights on the “streamer season” fantasy will not be going to solely assist you catch further trout year-round nevertheless make you a ringer throughout the fall even when these massive streamers gained’t get it executed.
Overlook the Calendar
Fish do not know what seasons are, not lower than not the best way by which we think about them. Their lives and behaviors are dictated by three key points—water conditions, temperature, and the amount of daily daylight. All fish alter their routine based mostly totally on how these parts change, nevertheless referring to massive, good fish in shifting water, I’d argue that nothing dictates their willingness to hammer massive lures and flies larger than water stage and color. That may be very true of untamed brown trout.
“When flows come up, there’s way more water shifting and way more meals shifting,” says Nolte. “The entire smaller fish that had their protected spot type of staked out get moved spherical. So, when the water comes up, the big fish, medium fish, and little fish end up occupying the an identical areas on account of the conditions don’t give them many selections. They’re often all pushed into these slower pockets collectively. And what do you suppose the big fish are doing as soon as they’re shoulder to shoulder with the little fish?”
If it’s massive hits on massive lures and flies you want, bigger, stained water will current the proper restore. Nolte components to “minty inexperienced” water as his favorite. This occurs often out West after a freestone river blows out absolutely, after which begins to drop. Off-color water moreover makes massive fish a lot much less cautious and, subsequently, quicker to make massive strikes they wouldn’t in some other case make. Nonetheless the bottom line is that these are the right conditions for aggressive reveals all yr prolonged.
When are they commonest? All through the spring. However when your river experiences them throughout the fall, that’s good. “Streamer season” loses its magic in a short while, though, within the occasion you’re dealing with low, clear water, which is frequent in autumn all via loads of the nation. Because of this reality, monitoring flow into information on-line for the rivers you fish is essential. By doing so, you’ll be succesful to pinpoint the proper events to throw massive flies and lures all yr lengthy.
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Hunt the Fast Lane
Do trout actually eat further throughout the fall? It’s up for debate nevertheless based mostly totally on anecdotal observations all through his a couple of years of guiding, Nolte doesn’t think about so (and neither do I). Whereas fashionable fishing media is telling you to go larger and badder this time of yr, every of our experiences dictate the choice—assuming rain or completely different parts aren’t creating these good big-fly conditions.
The place I keep throughout the Northeast, October and November water conditions often seem like August and September water conditions. Positive, they’re cooler, nevertheless they’re gin clear and sluggish pockets and eddies are generally coated in floating leaves. A typical observe under these conditions is to concentrate on the deep, darkish holes scattered between the low, clear riffles. Nonetheless Nolte components out that doing so doesn’t make sticking massive trout on massive selections any easier.
“A large hole may look really attractive,” he says. “You’re questioning what beasts lurk in there? Nonetheless these holes are moreover very sluggish shifting. The fish in them have quite a few look time, and folks holes get hit often. A larger wager could possibly be concentrating on the underside ends of the quickest whitewater you would discover. Out West, when the water is mainly low within the summertime, that’s the place I throw massive streamers. Of us don’t even suppose trout would keep there, nevertheless they do on account of it’s properly oxygenated. Then, when a baitfish or your streamer swings by, they don’t have time to suppose. They solely eat.”
Bear in mind {that a} big hole would be the place an enormous trout lives, nevertheless not primarily the place it eats all its meals. A fish tight to the monetary establishment is looking out for meals and excellent streamer conditions put them there. If the banks are low and would expose the fish, they merely gained’t be on the banks.
Small Steps
The best points about excellent streamer conditions is that they allow you to land heavy fish further continually. Whenever you’ve received stained water you don’t need to fret an extreme quantity of about trout being spooky, so chances are you’ll get away with using heavier traces and leaders. Approaching less-than-ideal conditions with beefed up cope with, nonetheless, usually is a recipe for failure. Even when the water is low and clear, you presumably can experience unbelievable fishing within the occasion you play your taking part in playing cards correct.
“All via most of my guiding occupation, fall fishing meant downsizing,” says Nolte. “You’re using delicate leaders and smaller flies, nevertheless the fish will eat.”
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One benefit of low, clear fall water is that it exposes meals sources that are not as easy to capitalize on all through bigger water intervals. Crayfish are a main occasion. When the water is up or off-color, they will switch between the rocks on the underside and keep largely undetected, nevertheless not when the water’s low and clear. Instead of attempting to draw an aggression strike out of an enormous brown that has its guard up due to the conditions, downsizing to a crayfish fly or light crayfish easy plastic can actually ranking you a trophy ahead of “chucking the meat.”