The concept of the “fall feed bag” permeates fishing media. It’s so prevalent that it’s conditioned anglers to assume that come autumn, all of the fish are gorging themselves in preparation for winter. To take it a step additional, many individuals consider that this frequent false impression makes fall the very best time to catch massive fish and plenty of them. To be honest, 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 totally different, and with regards to brown trout particularly, the “fall feed bag” is extra hype than actuality.
Within the flyfishing world particularly, fall is thought to be “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 could be so overblown that you could possibly be led to consider they lose all curiosity in additional frequent meals like aquatic larvae. Now, that’s to not say massive browns don’t get fooled by 6-plus-inch streamers and equally lengthy jerkbaits this time of 12 months…nevertheless it actually has little to do with the season.
My buddy and 15-year Montana information, Miles Nolte, has chased trout all around the world. Now, he lives and fishes in New Zealand, dwelling of a number of the finest—and most difficult—trout fishing on this planet. I just lately interviewed him on the Fast Strike podcast and his insights on the “streamer season” delusion is not going to solely allow you to catch extra trout year-round however make you a ringer within the fall even when these massive streamers gained’t get it finished.
Overlook the Calendar
Fish don’t know what seasons are, at the very least not the way in which we take into consideration them. Their lives and behaviors are dictated by three key issues—water circumstances, temperature, and the quantity of every day daylight. All fish alter their routine based mostly on how these components change, however with regards to massive, good fish in shifting water, I’d argue that nothing dictates their willingness to hammer massive lures and flies greater than water stage and shade. 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 secure spot sort of staked out get moved round. So, when the water comes up, the massive fish, medium fish, and little fish find yourself occupying the identical areas as a result of the circumstances don’t give them many choices. They’re usually all pushed into these slower pockets collectively. And what do you assume the massive fish are doing once they’re shoulder to shoulder with the little fish?”
If it’s massive hits on massive lures and flies you need, larger, stained water will present the very best repair. Nolte factors to “minty inexperienced” water as his favourite. This happens usually out West after a freestone river blows out fully, after which begins to drop. Off-color water additionally makes massive fish much less cautious and, subsequently, faster to make massive strikes they wouldn’t in any other case make. However the backside line is that these are the correct circumstances for aggressive shows all 12 months lengthy.
When are they commonest? Throughout the spring. But when your river experiences them within the fall, that’s nice. “Streamer season” loses its magic in a short time, although, when you’re coping with low, clear water, which is frequent in autumn all through a lot of the nation. Due to this fact, monitoring stream knowledge on-line for the rivers you fish is essential. By doing so, you’ll have the ability to pinpoint the very best occasions to throw massive 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 consider so (and neither do I). Whereas trendy fishing media is telling you to go larger and badder this time of 12 months, each of our experiences dictate the other—assuming rain or different components aren’t creating these excellent big-fly circumstances.
The place I dwell within the Northeast, October and November water circumstances usually appear like August and September water circumstances. Sure, they’re cooler, however they’re gin clear and gradual pockets and eddies are sometimes lined in floating leaves. A standard observe below these circumstances 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 massive trout on massive choices any simpler.
“A giant gap may 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 numerous look time, and people holes get hit usually. A greater guess can be focusing on the underside ends of the quickest whitewater you will discover. Out West, when the water is de facto low in the summertime, that’s the place I throw massive streamers. Folks don’t even assume 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 assume. They simply eat.”
Remember the fact that an enormous gap is likely to be the place an enormous 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 circumstances put them there. If the banks are low and would expose the fish, they merely gained’t be on the banks.
Small Steps
Top-of-the-line issues about best streamer circumstances is that they help you land heavy fish extra persistently. If in case you have stained water you don’t want to fret an excessive amount of about trout being spooky, so you will get away with utilizing heavier strains and leaders. Approaching less-than-ideal circumstances with beefed up deal with, nevertheless, could be a recipe for failure. Even when the water is low and clear, you’ll be able to expertise unimaginable fishing when 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 durations. Crayfish are a chief 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 circumstances, downsizing to a crayfish fly or mild crayfish comfortable plastic can really rating you a trophy sooner than “chucking the meat.”
