It’s fall, my favorite time of the year. Why you might ask? If you live in an area that is dependent on tourism, school has started, and they’ve gone home. The air temperature has cooled off. In fact, you might need a sweater in the mornings. The colors surrounding you, regardless of where you fly fish, are beautiful. The water levels in the streams and rivers are at wadable levels. The moss and weeds in ponds and small lakes are disappearing. What’s not to like?  

The question now arises, what fly should I use? It depends where and for what you are fly fishing. Fall is a great time for flies that float. For mountain streams, many of the traditional hatches have come to an end. Therefore, I like to use attractors such as Royal Wulff, Chubby Chernobyl, or your own creation from your tying bench. Since black flies are still around, I also use flies that resemble them. Black Gnats or H&L Variants fit the bill and are always a good choice. A size 16 hopper fished close to the bank is also a good fly to use. For larger streams go to a bigger hopper. Remember, large fish like larger flies (Tell that to the people who fish the San Juan River). I also will use a stimulator or a small mouse pattern. I have caught trout where you can actually feel the mice in their stomachs. Don’t overlook this pattern.  

For ponds and small lakes, it depends on what you are fishing for. If bass are your prey, cast anything that looks like it can swim. Bass are very aggressive and will eat almost anything. I like to cast frogs, mice, poppers, and anything that resembles a cicada. The bass don’t know the cicada hatch is over for many years.  

I find that trout in a pond or small lake are not as aggressive as bass. They tend to be more cautious or selective. I find that damsels or hoppers, with lots of legs, work well. After casting them I like to use a very slow stripping retrieve. This gives the trout lots of time to investigate the fly before deciding it looks like a good meal.  

If flies that float aren’t working for you tie on the always reliable Woolly Bugger. After fishing dry flies with no success, my Friday fly fishing partner, Kim, and I found a spot on a small lake that was home to the “mother lode” of pan fish. The only fly they would eat was a Woolly Bugger. What fun!  

Fall is such a great time. It’s quiet, it’s cooler, and the fish are hungry. Seems to me it’s everything that fly fishing is all about.