Fall Trout Fishing

[Gray Ghost]

Well, guys, I'm back from a long hiatus from the fish thread. I was doing nothing but getting myself into trouble in those other sections...what was I doing discussing anything but trout fishing anyway?

I wanted to start this thread so we can post our tactics and catches for fall trout fishing. Personally, I am going to troll for some browns with some streamers tied by Hugh, and I am going to use an xmas tree/streamer combo on some lakers in late September. I'm looking for some advice on fall Brookies. Let's share our fall tactics, ambitions, and trip reports.

(By the way, I just got the mount back from the 21" Brown I landed early in the season. My bro did a great job mounting it).

It's great to be back. -GG

[Hornet]

I hope to get out this weekend. I will probably be chasing the brookies with rooster tails tipped with a little dug worm. I usually have pretty good luck with the darker colors.

[Nessmuk]

I finally got back on the stream this past weekend. The water temp is down around 68 now....I quit fishing back in early July when it hit 74! I was so happy when I landed 3 native beauties. I was using a tandem rig and all 3 took the dry....how fun is that! Anyhow, with the storm coming for the next few days it will add even more water into the streams...things should be perfect this weekend! I'll keep ya posted!

I agree....its great to be back on the fishing thread!

[windsong781]

I took a fly fishing course with the State of NH in June. My first time out to test the skills that I learned was this last week while vacationing in Pittsburg NH. The Great North Woods, where Pittsburg is located, is well known for excellent fly fishing in its brooks, lakes and ponds as well as for the vast wilderness that encompasses this area. I was told not to be disappointed if I didn't catch anything the first time I went out, and didn't really expect to on this day as it was mid-day and quite hot out. I fished in small pools near rapids, using a dry fly (#16 elk hair caddis). just figuring I would practice my casting before going out later in the day to an area called the "Trophy Stretch" on the Connecticut River. After many casts, I decided to test my luck by casting into a deeper cooler pool of water that was overshadowed by many trees hanging over the brooks bank. Immediately I got a hit, set the hook, and landed a ten inch brookie. It was so much fun watching it jump in and out of the water, diving in and out of the deeper pools and playing it on the line, until I decided it was time to bring it in and set it free. Of course my husband asked if we could take it back to camp and eat it for dinner, but I said no, we would let it live. Later that day my husband and I went to Murphy Dam which is on the lower part of the "Trophy Stretch" of the Connecticut River. Both of us are new to fly fishing, but it is fast becoming apparent that I am more interested in what's going on with stream ecology and the technical aspect of things than my husband is. It wasn't until I observed that there were two hatches going on at the same time that I decided to change from a cadis to a light parachute cahill, and then the fish starting taking the fly. Between us we caught 4 small rainbow of only about six inches or so. No bigger fish surfaced as they had been doing for the past few nights. We were told that there are some pretty big brown and rainbow in this area. It was alot of fun and now I can't wait until I can go out again to make use of my NH fishing license. I wish I could afford a fishing license for all of the NE states as well as NY. I spend alot of time in NY, NH and Vermont and would like to combine fly fishing and hiking/camping to get the best of both worlds. Too bad there isn't a license that accomodates various NE states and NY. That would be great.
Windsong

[serotonin]

Nice! Congratulations on your first fly-caught trout! You might want to 'retire' that EHCaddis if you still have it...

*

I got White Flies on my mind; Ephorons. Might go chasing them tonight if the weather's not too nasty.

[Hugh]

Hey Ghost, One of my favorite tactics for fall fishing is to treat a Hornberg with floatant and troll it on the suface so it leaves a Veee wake on the suface,ya know take a stroke of the paddle let the fly sit for a minute and take another stroke,and enjoy the day between fish. Hugh

[Green Butted Skunk]

Gg

Floating stickbait barely sunk with splitshot dangling off my boat as I work a Jigg. Don't use much else. Maybe a Thomas Boyant or two and OH YEA., how could I forget.....Garden Hackle....

GBS

[Hornet]

Boy I sure wish I could catch on to the fly fishing thing. I do ok when I try for little pikes or bass with streamers. But my presentation is terrible when it comes to trout. I guess I need to get it back out and give it another try before the season is over.

[Nessmuk]

Practice makes perfect....I remember years ago when I was learning to fly fish I would go to some pretty obscure places where no body was around to see my horrilbe casts and presentations. Then one evening while "practicing" I had a monster brown hit my dark cahill dry and wham....what a thrill. Minutes later I was looking at a gorgeous 17" brown in the net. A few casts later I landed another big brown....presentations can only get better when you are out there trying.....give it another try Hornet....you might be suprised at how well your presentation will be!

We got 4 inches of rain today in the SW Adirondacks.....give it a few days and things should settle. The night time temps should cool the streams even further....let the fishing begin!

[wildbrookies]

Hello to all,
Glad to hear a few stories from fellow enthusiasts of fish being caught again....welcome back Gray Ghost, Nessmuk, Hugh, Sero, Green Butt Skunk and Congrats to Windsong on a nice trout and story, also welcome Hornet ,and hope you all do well this coming fall...we need some stories to help each other through the days when we`re stuck at home or at work....I hope to plunge into my favorite river this weekend, conditions maybe good after the rains subside and the river clears....Good luck to ya`all!!!!!!

Wildbrookies

[windsong781]

Serotonin, thanks for the congrats. I wish that I had taken my camera with me. No picture, only that fly to remember the catch with. I think that I will retire it.

Nessmuk, I too was looking for obscure places to fish my first day out fly fishing. As soon as a guide and two guys came along a bit upstream, I got out of the water, sat on the river bank and eat my lunch. The only good thing about that came out of that was that I learned alot by observing the guide. I sat in the truck later that night while my husband fished, because I was afraid to embarrass myself in front of all those "guys" out there who were all decked out in their fly fishing gear, all having the apparence that they knew what they were doing. I told my husband the mosquitoes were too bad and that I would see him back at the truck when he was done. The bugs were bad, and he didn't catch anything, so I didn't feel so bad for sitting it out. What an excuse for not trying though. It was on my second day out that I caught my first trout, and I actually didn't care what I looked like while I was out their. I just kept trying different casting techniques to see what worked for me in various conditions.

So Hornet, like Nessmuk said "presentation can only get better when you are out their trying", so don't feel like I did and loose all of the enjoyment that can be derived from just being out there. The words of wisdom from a seasoned fly fisherman whom I met and spent alot of time with while camping last week were "we are all beginners at one time or another, and the serious fisherman is not out there to catch you making a bad cast, he is out there on the river to catch fish". It was his words that inspired me to go out the next day and practice. So go out and have some fun like I did and you just might surprise yourself.

Windsong

[marzrw]

Couldn't have said it any better Windsong. I still feel awkward at times. Just ask Sero, he's seen me cast. WB save some trout for me will you please.

[wildbrookies]

Windsong,

You sound alot like Marz and I, we are self taught fly anglers and unfortunately are self conscious also.... next time you go and those other anglers are there don`t be afraid to find a piece of the river maybe alittle away from them and do not stop fishing....I know how you feel about fishing around those professional looking fishermen,, but they may be no better than and you and besides ....you never know, you may come away from the river with the biggest ...or the only trout of the day... and they will either ask you all kinds of questions on how you caught it or they may walk away w/ their heads hanging....besides ...if they are true sportsmen then they will remember their earlier outings and appreciate helping you and make you feel like you belong....everyone started somewhere....it just takes time and before you know it years and trips will have passed and you won`t believe how far you came along in this fantastic pastime.....we are blessed to have the oppurtunity to pursue trout in this completely sporting and satisfying way....please continue your flyfishing and keep us informed and ...don`t hessitate to ask for any help ...this board has many experienced people who stand in rivers and wave sticks.....good luck and I`m glad you`re aboard.....

p.s.. don`t worry Marzrw, I can`t hook them all, but I will give it my darndest.......probably go to your spot......hopefully something will be hatching or at least chasing emergers or nymphs....



Wildbrookies

[Hornet]

Well to be honest the fly rod makes it to the truck every time I go fishing but if there is any wind I seem to forget the rod in the truck.

I have gotten better in the last few years on the back cast I can even keep from slapping the water when sitting in the kayak. My real problem comes trying to lay the fly down. I can make a nice pile of the leader.

I may have to give it a go this weekend and report back. I do know if I fail on the trout I can go for the bass and if I still come up empty the spinning rod will be close by.

[Hugh]

Well to be honest the fly rod makes it to the truck every time I go fishing but if there is any wind I seem to forget the rod in the truck.

I have gotten better in the last few years on the back cast I can even keep from slapping the water when sitting in the kayak. My real problem comes trying to lay the fly down. I can make a nice pile of the leader.

I may have to give it a go this weekend and report back. I do know if I fail on the trout I can go for the bass and if I still come up empty the spinning rod will be close by.

What kinda leader setup are you using?