What a difference a couple of days makes. From 80 degrees a couple of days ago to a high of 51 tomorrow. I only had to go back a year in my trout log to see that much of a contrast in temps for September. September 8 last year was 58 degrees while I was fishing. That was a slow day on the water.
Similar to how today was, with a high of 60. We caught fish, but it was not easy. The Tricos didn’t return to the water to lay eggs until after 10:00 today, but there was enough of a wind to make casting to the occasional rise difficult for my beginners. We stuck to the nymphs and put on some weight. The Narly Midge and Red Copper John where the flies that had success today…but then again, those were the only nymphs we fished, so it stands to reason.
The Trico’s seem to be hanging on a little longer than usual this year (that’s great, it tells me we have not had high water in a few years to destroy our bug population) and the Blue Wing Olives are appearing with some regularity. I’m hopeful for a good fall of fishing the BWO’s.
Time to be fishing the smallest nymphs you have. The adult Trico’s and BWO’s are size #20 and #18.
Flies to Fish in the coming weeks
Nymphs: Copper John, Prince, Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear (#18 to #16) Caddis (#16 to #14) Midge (#20 to #16) (Red Copper John trailed by a black or tan midge has been really good for me lately)
Dries: Caddis (#16 to #14) Tricos – very early in the morning (#18 to #22) – Griffith’s Gnat (#20 to #18) Blue Wing Olives are out there, they should come on strong with this cool weather. #20 to #18
Terrestrials –ants, beetles, crickets and hoppers – mid-morning through late afternoon – with emphasis on the hottest and sunniest part of the day.
Emergers: Any emerger/wet fly/soft hackle to match the dry flies above. Fish it with the dry. Definitely fish a midge soft hackle near dark and early in the morning if you can determine the fish are taking midges and not Tricos. Even if you can’t, not a lot of difference between a midge and mayfly soft hackle. Fish a softie when their taking emergers!!! The fish are less particular about the soft hackle than they are about the dry fly.
Sreamers/Buggers: If you are looking for big fish or if the water is a little off color… or if nothing else is working.
Fishing report by Kent Kleckner of Bear Creek Anglers in Decorah, Iowa.