Fall fishing in Colorado is as good as it gets. This time of year brings great water conditions, cooler temperatures and spectacular mountain scenery. The whole experience is always worth taking a day to get out on the water.
Anglers can encounter some excellent dry fly fishing this time of year. But as fall progresses, and major hatches begin to taper off, anglers may need to change strategies. Here are a few tips as we think about fall fishing:
1. Downsize Your Dry Flies
As we make the transition from summer to fall fishing, one of the first things we may need to adjust is the size of our flies. You may notice that trout become hesitant to rise. Before you give up on dry fly fishing altogether, try downsizing your dries.
Where you’ve had success on big terrestrials and up-sized dry flies throughout the summer months, now that size 20 Parachute Adams in your fly box might suddenly do the trick.
Fall is a great time for dry fly fishing. Just remember that a change from your go-to summer bugs might be warranted.
2. Fish Small Terrestrials
Speaking of dry flies, this is the perfect time of year to be fishing small terrestrials like beetles and ants. Even late into the fall, small terrestrials can be a hot meal ticket for trout.
When fishing beetle and ant patterns, one effective strategy is to fish them behind a dry fly that’s easier to see. Then, you can fish that small terrestrial low in the surface film or even let it sink as drowned ants and beetles often do, using the first dry fly as a strike indicator.
3. It’s Streamer Season
Fall is also a great time to be fishing streamers. As the weather begins to change, fish will be looking for that fast, easy fill-up. This time of year, think about fishing dark colored streamers. Black is always a good choice. Also be ready with some fall-colored options. Check out our September Fly of the Month, the Complex Twist Bugger. This is one of our fall favorites.
One good strategy is to work a streamer along the far bank, using a quartering downstream cast. Allow the fly to swing through the current and strip it back up the near bank. Take a few steps downstream, and repeat.
For more information on streamer selection, check out this BLOG on the topic.
4. Use A Streamer-Specific Fly Line
While you can certainly throw a streamer with your standard trout fly line, don’t underestimate the difference that a streamer-specific fly line will make. The short, punchier head on a streamer fly line makes casting big flies much more comfortable. You’ll notice an immediate improvement in your efficiency and accuracy.
Need to swap out a fly line on your reel? No problem! Bring your reel into the shop and we’ll happily change out that fly line for your fall streamer fishing. Alternatively, check out this Scientific Anglers Spool Winder to do it yourself at home.
In addition to a dedicated fly line for streamers, a short, sinking leader like the Rio VersiLeader can be a big help in your fall streamer fishing adventures.
5. Start Layering
As summer turns to fall, anglers should be prepared for big temperature swings. Cold mornings can lead to hot afternoons.
Mornings can be surprisingly chilly this time of year. But by mid-afternoon, it can feel like summer again. Don’t forget to bring your layers and be prepared for just about any type of weather.
Check out men’s apparel and women’s apparel for your fall layering needs.
6. Try Something Different
Fall runs of spawning fish can draw big crowds to high profile rivers above popular reservoirs. Instead of joining the masses to target fall run fish, think differently and go find yourself some solitude.
During the fall months, many mountain towns are between peak seasons. Smaller tributary rivers in these areas can be the perfect place to enjoy a beautiful September day. Small streams offer great fishing in the fall. And there is arguably no better time to be in the high country.
Alternatively, try fishing for pike! Remember that we have a lot more than just trout here in Colorado. And fall is a great time to fish for pike on many of our mountain reservoirs.
And finally, this is a perfect time of year to try fishing a trout spey setup. This allows you to fish different water than you’d normally be fishing. And swinging a fly through fast riffles can lead to aggressive strikes from hungry fall fish!
Don’t Miss Fall Fishing in Colorado
Get out there and enjoy the spectacular fall weather in Colorado! Don’t be afraid to change your tactics and try something new. Most importantly, stop and look up from the water every once in a while.
If you have questions, please stop by the fly shop or give us a call at 303-794-1104. We’d love to help you get ready for a great day of fall fishing.
