Fall Trout

The fall can be one of the best times of the year to catch big trout in lots of waters.  Here in WNY we have the best of all worlds, while we can chase the salmon run up tributaries off Lake Ontario, sneak up on chrome steelhead off Lake Erie, or retrieve big gaudy streamers though the wild trout waters all over the area and catch the large browns that have done a great job avoiding the summer pressure of fishermen.  The limited pressure on the rivers and creeks this time of year makes it a wonderful time to get out there and land one of these beauties.  Deer hunting helps kill the pressure of crowded banks and streams.

What techniques can we use?

Like the early season don't be afraid to hook up a strike indicator and drift your favorite nymphs through the riffles and deep pools along your favorite trout stream.  Theres not much of a hatch in WNY to match this time of the year, but all time favorites like the hare's ear, red headed brassie, or pheasant tail nymphs will get the job done.  Pick a seam outside the fast current where food would pile up and drift your indicator through making sure you have enough weight on your line to get your nymph low and basically feed it to the big brownies.  If this isn't working don't be discouraged the trout might need some help realizing how fun it is on the end of your tippet.  If drifting that favorite nymph isn't creating the desired results  then it's time to drop a dropper of the back sub-surface wolly bugger or small streamer.  Tie an 18 inch section of fine tippet off the leading fly and drop a small nypmh off the back.  The top streamer or bugger while getting attention of the fish will either get the job done or get enough attention to hunger the fish enough to gobble up the trailing nymph.

Another option for fall time trout is beating the banks with streamers.  The bigger, gaudier, and flashier the better.  Give these bulls something to chase, something that looks like a meal.  Look for undercut banks, down trees, boulders or large rocks.  Places that huge trout can hang out, feel protected, and run out for food all in a small area. Short, quick burst, erratic retrieves with bunny streamers or mouse flys will drive big buck trout crazy and result in a definite hook up.

Fall trout fishing can be some of the most fun you can have on the water all year round.  Big wild browns is my goal usually, but I'll settle for just about any kind of trout.  If anything this will be one of the most enjoyable times for you since the pressure will be low and you can experiment with multiple techniques and flys.  Fill that fly box up with multiple nymphs, wet flys, and big gaudy streamers.  floating strike indicators or no, a couple split shots or floating line take your pick.  It will all work out as long as you work on the perfect presentation in the perfect holding spots on the creeks where these smart trout have been hold up all summer long.  Good luck out there and remember to enjoy the outdoors while you're out there hunting, fishing, and grilling the outdoors.

Cheers

Billy