Somehow, it’s already the fall season again. Autumn is also a prime time for fly fishing, but it requires a different approach and tools than other seasons.
If you’re about to set out on your first fly fishing expedition of the fall season, check out our tips to ensure your autumn fishing strategy is sound!
Watch Your Shadow
In the fall season, water levels are typically lower, and the water is clearer than in the spring or summer. This means you’ll have to be more cautious in your approach. Autumn also means a lower sun in the sky throughout the day, which casts bigger and longer shadows.
Any angler worth their salt knows how a shadow can instantly spook a fish, so watch out for your shadows during your approach. Or, you can skip the shadows altogether by fly fishing in the dark.
Utilize Streamers
Fall typically also means more aggressive fish, especially trout, due to the upcoming mating season and spawning. Anglers can take advantage of this hostile behavior by using more moving baits that attract attention like streamers.
A streamer rod can be your most effective tool on a fall fishing day, as it more easily grabs a trout’s attention and provokes it.
Keep Your Fly Moving
It’s also wise to use your motion for your flies when fishing in autumn. Fall typically brings twigs, dead leaves, and other natural debris onto bodies of water. This biological waste can be an obstacle for anglers, as it can camouflage flies and make it challenging for fish to see.
So, to ensure that the fish get a good look at your fly, utilize more movement.
Gauge the Water Temperature
The water temperature determines how active the fish will be while you’re fishing. In the summer, the hot days mean the fish will typically sink to the lower depths before coming up in the cooler early morning or night.
However, on a chilly fall day, the water is cooler, and the fish are more likely to be active and eat in the middle of the day when the sun is out. Study the recent weather in the area and gauge the water temperature to learn the best time to fish.
Bring Some Terrestrials
Fall is also the season when insects like ants hatch and spread over rivers, making a tasty buffet for fish. Anglers can capitalize on this by bringing along terrestrial flies that mimic beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and any other insects fish may be interested in.
Pro-Tip: Do some research to learn the native insects at your fishing hole and their hatching seasons so that you can bring along flies the fish will recognize.
What tips have worked for you during the fall fly fishing season? Let us know!