Fall Hatches
I’ve been fly fishing for more than 35 years. Often in those early years I fished into July or maybe even early August—but seldom any later than that. Why? Low and warm water conditions and lack of hatches made fishing unproductive.
But in August, September and October of 1975 I had an opportunity to visit dozens of Western and Midwestern rivers for the first time. I was on a mission: I had a deadline to complete the manuscript for Meeting and Fishing the Hatches. In a three month period I fished the likes of Henry’s Fork near Idaho Fall, Idaho: the AuSable near Grayling, Michigan; the Colorado River near Kremmling, Colorado; the McKenzie near Eugene, Oregon and 36 additional productive streams.
What I learned in that short time really opened my eyes to late season fly fishing. I hit an explosive hatch of white flies on the Miracle Mile stretch of the North Platte near Saratoga, Wyoming, one late August evening and dozens of morning trico hatches on almost every river I fished. In late September on the South Platte River just below Elevenmile Reservoir Phil Camera and I hit a two-hour trico spinner fall. On that morning dozens of heavy rainbows slowly sipped in spent spinners much of the morning.
But, these are only a few of the places and just a couple of the hatches that you can expect to see nationwide—and best of all they occur well into September and on some waters well into October.
If you only have one or two patterns to use in the fall (and early spring) what would they be? I’d opt for a Gray Wulff or an Adams. I’ve recently tied a pattern I call the Hi Brid because it copies some parts of the Adams and Gray Wulff and adds a new twist—white calf body wings. The one thing I dislike about the Gray Wulff ;and the Adams are my inability to follow these patterns on the surface. With the Hi Brid you’ll not have that problem.
Why does a gray pattern work so well in the fall? Look at he hatches that appear that time (Table 1) of the year. All across the country you’ll still find blue quills emerging in the morning. In the East you’ll find a good supply of slate drakes, especially on faster flowing waters. In the southwest, especially on New Mexico and Arizona waters you’ll find little blue-winged olives abundant. On many streams you’ll see tricos in the morning; and you’ll find white flies on the Housatonic in Connecticut and many other eastern waters, and on the North Platte in Wyoming. (See Mayfly Identification photos on this web site.)
But, early fall has an added bonus: you’ll often be greeted by cool, overcast days. If you find one of those overcast, drizzly days in September or October, drop everything and go fishing. Why? Trout tend to binge feed at this time of year preparing for the coming winter and a scarcity of food. Many of the largest trout I’ve caught were in September and early October. Add a lousy day to the picture and you have an ideal setup for a memorable day. On those cool, overcast days insects that emerge can’t readily take flight and sit on the surface for an extended time. Trout often feed on these laggard insects for hours gorging themselves.
What hatches should you be prepared to match on these overcast early fall days? The little blue-winged olive by far is the most common to appear on these days. These hatches appear in tremendous numbers, but often go unnoticed except when they can’t escape from the surface. Also be prepared for some great fishing if you see slate drakes appearing.
Don’t overlook downwings at this time of year. I often use a downwing with a body of burnt orange or amber because naturals with that color appear nationwide at this time of year. The McKenzie River in Eugene, Oregon holds a great fall hatch that locals call the October Caddis.
What will you do this early fall season? Have you already hung up your fishing gear? Take it back down and head out to one of the many streams and rivers coast to coast that hold great fall trout fishing and hatches. It’s a great time to fish over rising trout one more time before winter sets in.
|
Pattern |
Hatch |
Size |
Where Found |
Streams and Rivers Time of Day |
| Little Blue-winged Olive |
Baetis species |
20-22 |
Nationwide |
in late fall especially in the Southwest San Juan, NM Beaverkill, NY Afternoon |
| Blue Quill |
Paraleptophlebia species |
18 |
Nationwide |
especially in the East North Platte, WYLittle Juniata, PA Morning
(Dun)Morning and Afternoon (Spinner) |
| Slate Drake |
Isonychia bicolor |
14 |
|
East Penns Creek, PADelaware River, NYAusable, NY Late afternoon and evening |
| Trico |
Tricorythodes species |
20-24 |
Nationwide |
South Platte, COMcKenzie, OR (lower part)Upper Verde, AZ (also appears in late February)Ruby, MTAuSable, MIMossy Creek, VAFalling Springs, PA Late morning (Appears later as the season progresses) |
| White Fly |
Ephoron species |
14 |
East and Northwest |
North Platte, WY Housatonic, CTYellow Breeches, PAW. Canada Creek, NY Delaware River, NY Evening
Note: Best hatches appear in mid to late August |
| Gray Fox |
Heptagenia solitaria |
14 |
West |
Colorado,CO Evening October |
| Caddis |
Dicosmoecus species |
12 |
West |
McKenzie, OR Afternoon |
Table 1. Hatches Found September to November
Note: My new book, How to Catch More Trout, will be available in October. You can contact your local sporting goods or bookstore to reserve a copy. I’ll be happy to autograph books at any of my scheduled appearances.
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