I love fall fly fishing.
Don't get me wrong, the spring and summer months are great after a long winter of few fish, but there's just something about fall fly fishing that you have to love.
More fish per square mile on your favorite streams, because the water levels have dropped and runoff, and, more importantly, murky water, are no longer an issue.
Stockers and holdover trout from the previous season are bigger, and have adapted to their surroundings, and, in some cases, aren't as easily spooked (although that depends entirely on the water levels and visibility where you're fishing).
Fall typically means back to school, which means fewer crowds and recreational and bait fishermen on the stream.
Fall is a great time to actually "get away" from it all. There's nothing better than fly fishing on game day in say Missoula, Montana, where much of the region is focused on the Grizzlies' next big opponent rather than what hatch is coming off.
The fall also allows you to throw bigger flies, which, in return means bigger fish.
Streamers, large nymphs and terrestrials are common patterns in the drier fall months, when bigger trout are feeding on bigger insects and baitfish in preparation for the ice over and another long winter spell.
Just be sure to plan accordingly.
As fun as the fall fly fishing can be, it can also turn ugly.
Days are getting shorter. Thunderstorms and ice-cold weather more frequent.
Flash floods and lightning can become an issue this time of year, so play it safe when you're on the water.
And be sure to drop by your local fly shop for tips on what's biting, where fish are holding and what hatches are coming off.
Fly stores, like our favorite fisheries, also don't see a ton of crowds this time of year and can use all the help they can get before the holiday shopping rush, and preparing for the outdoor tradeshow circuit in the new year.
And even if you don't have a ton of time to fish in the fall, be sure to scout out your favorite streams and rivers, which are at their lowest water levels this time of year with their rocky bottoms, holes and structure dry and in plain site in many cases.
Scouting these fishing holes now can pay big dividends in the spring and summer, when the water levels are a whole lot higher and the structure that much more unpredictable.
Looking for a place to fly fish this fall? Be sure to dheck out our "From the Guides" articles for great breakdowns on fly fishing opportunities in:
Fly Fishing Ascension Bay: Sight fishing for bonefish and other saltwater species over the white sandy bottoms in Ascension Bay, Mexico.
Fly Fishing Northern New Mexico: The Chama River and other fine fisheries make New Mexico a hidden gem for fly fishers.
Fly Fishing Cape Cod: A look at some tips for for shore fly fishing Cape Cod.
Fly Fishing Cranberry River: All about fly fishing the tasty river in West Virginia.
Fly Fishing Colorado River: A closer look at the 16-mile stretch from Lees Ferry to Glen Canyon Dam.
Fly Fishing British Columbia: Pemberton gives anglers all sorts of fly fishing options.
Fly Fishing Helton Creek: The fishery out of Jefferson, N.C. provides some of the best fly fishing North Carolina has to offer.
Fly Fishing Owens River Valley: A look at the three different sections of the Owens and nearby fisheries in the Eastern Sierra.
Don't get me wrong, the spring and summer months are great after a long winter of few fish, but there's just something about fall fly fishing that you have to love.
More fish per square mile on your favorite streams, because the water levels have dropped and runoff, and, more importantly, murky water, are no longer an issue.
Stockers and holdover trout from the previous season are bigger, and have adapted to their surroundings, and, in some cases, aren't as easily spooked (although that depends entirely on the water levels and visibility where you're fishing).
Fall typically means back to school, which means fewer crowds and recreational and bait fishermen on the stream.
Fall is a great time to actually "get away" from it all. There's nothing better than fly fishing on game day in say Missoula, Montana, where much of the region is focused on the Grizzlies' next big opponent rather than what hatch is coming off.
The fall also allows you to throw bigger flies, which, in return means bigger fish.
Streamers, large nymphs and terrestrials are common patterns in the drier fall months, when bigger trout are feeding on bigger insects and baitfish in preparation for the ice over and another long winter spell.
Just be sure to plan accordingly.
As fun as the fall fly fishing can be, it can also turn ugly.
Days are getting shorter. Thunderstorms and ice-cold weather more frequent.
Flash floods and lightning can become an issue this time of year, so play it safe when you're on the water.
And be sure to drop by your local fly shop for tips on what's biting, where fish are holding and what hatches are coming off.
Fly stores, like our favorite fisheries, also don't see a ton of crowds this time of year and can use all the help they can get before the holiday shopping rush, and preparing for the outdoor tradeshow circuit in the new year.
And even if you don't have a ton of time to fish in the fall, be sure to scout out your favorite streams and rivers, which are at their lowest water levels this time of year with their rocky bottoms, holes and structure dry and in plain site in many cases.
Scouting these fishing holes now can pay big dividends in the spring and summer, when the water levels are a whole lot higher and the structure that much more unpredictable.
Looking for a place to fly fish this fall? Be sure to dheck out our "From the Guides" articles for great breakdowns on fly fishing opportunities in:
Fly Fishing Ascension Bay: Sight fishing for bonefish and other saltwater species over the white sandy bottoms in Ascension Bay, Mexico.
Fly Fishing Northern New Mexico: The Chama River and other fine fisheries make New Mexico a hidden gem for fly fishers.
Fly Fishing Cape Cod: A look at some tips for for shore fly fishing Cape Cod.
Fly Fishing Cranberry River: All about fly fishing the tasty river in West Virginia.
Fly Fishing Colorado River: A closer look at the 16-mile stretch from Lees Ferry to Glen Canyon Dam.
Fly Fishing British Columbia: Pemberton gives anglers all sorts of fly fishing options.
Fly Fishing Helton Creek: The fishery out of Jefferson, N.C. provides some of the best fly fishing North Carolina has to offer.
Fly Fishing Owens River Valley: A look at the three different sections of the Owens and nearby fisheries in the Eastern Sierra.