Top Tips For Stillwater Fishing in Fall
Fall is in the air and for the lake fly fisher, there’s no better time than right now if you love the change in colors of the trees, the crisp air and unpredictable weather.
If you need to get gear for the fall chill, we've got a large selection of warmer wader options online here.
But sometimes fly fishing stillwaters can be tricky- luckily, we’ve searched and learned and failed so many times that we’ve figured a couple things out- so you can take these top 4 tips for still water, and actually get out and have a better shot at producing some hits this fall.
1. Stillwater Tips: Fishing Dragonfly Nymphs
Dragonfly nymphs are migrating from the depths, heading for the shoreline in search of rush tubers where they burrow for protection from the freeze to come. The fly angler can anchor in the shallows and slowly retrieve a nymph pattern along the bottom to imitate this migration.
2. Imitate the Shrimp! Our Second Stillwater Tip
Shrimp are always busy at this time of year, there's a lot of dead stuff for them to clean up. Try hanging your imitation from a strike indicator (shop for those right here) just above the bottom and give it a twitch every few seconds. This method also works with micro leeches when the trout are feeding on the tiny shrimp that are hard to copy with a fly.
3. Chironomids Tried and True: a Stillwater How To
Chironomids hatch right up to freeze up but not in the numbers you see in the spring. Try bloodworm patterns, next spring's chironomids are in this larval form and are often migrating at this time trying to find an ideal location to hunker down for the long cold winter.
4. Fishing for the Boatman & Avoiding the Sting
Time to look for Waterboatmen, should be fished close to shorelines and best on long leaders.
Backswimmers, the male backswimmers, will fly from lake to lake in search of females. They like a sunny morning and look like fluff balls carried on the breeze.
These little guys fold their wings just before landing and land with a plop just like a raindrop. Trout have the remarkable ability to track the incoming backswimmer and be there at the moment of landing... so that means you might get some pretty immediate eats!
WARNING: Remember that while you are out on the water and the Backswimmer are in the air if you swat one after it lands on you their bite can sting for many days after.
Quick Tip on Fall Stillwater Fishing in the Northwest
In the early fall there is still lots of food available. Trout will feed in short intense bursts then shut down just as quickly. Don't sit in one spot, move around and try different methods.
Take the action to the fish, don't wait for them to come to you!
Get the materials you need to tie up the flies mentioned above, right here... and search our fly tying database to learn some new variants: here.