Fall Updates

Time flies. I consistently tell myself to update the blog, but it never gets done. Real life happens and time gets away. I know I need to be better with updates and writing. Alas, someday I'll get there.

My previous post was prior to the spring season, just as I wrapped up my ice fishing season. A good spring season has passed, and actually a pretty good summer as well. Late summer and early fall so far have been tougher with severe drought and low water conditions. However, it is currently raining as I write this and it's full steam ahead for fall fly fishing and trout fishing once we have some normal flows. We are just getting into prime fall season.

For those reading and wondering about current fly fishing conditions in Syracuse and Central NY and how the next 6-8 weeks of prime fall trout fishing will play out, I expect very good conditions once some normal flows return. We just need rain. It's been extremely dry for two months. Water temps are great. Trout have been willing to participate as long as they don't spook, which has been tricky with ultra-low and gin clear water. Low light conditions early - mid morning have been best and will continue to stay that way until decent flows return. Nymphing has been the most productive method of fly fishing and will continue to be throughout the fall season.

How long is the fall season and how long does the fishing stay good? It's a great question and I've been seeing this question more often lately. The answer is... It depends. Conditions, being water temperatures and flows, dictate everything. However, my opinion is that things do typically happen later here in Central NY. While in many place of the country, and even NY State, fly fishing picks up in September, things just don't seem to gain a lot of steam until we have consistent water flows, which really doesn't usually happen until October. Our brown trout tend to spawn later because they don't have consistent water flows to move until later in the fall and our water temps tend to not be consistently cold enough to spawn until later into November and well into December. The best fall trout fishing in the area, in my opinion, is October, November, and December.

Isn't it cold? It sure can be. It's not uncommon to have temperatures below freezing during the fall and some snow at times. However, it's not usually consistent. While there are days in the 30s with snow, sleet, or rain (sometimes all at the same time), there are more days where it is actually pretty mild, 40s - 70s, even into the holiday season.

I enjoy being out during the fall and early winter months, the "off season". Anglers chasing salmon and steelhead, and hunters in the woods and on the lakes, means relatively quiet days on the trout creeks.

How do you attack the creeks with low and clear water? Slow and stealthy is the answer, here. While it is true that catch rates and expectations decrease with the low and clear water, 1-2 fish per hole/run type of deal, the opportunities are there. Your approach to the stream changes to more of a hunt than just show up and start casting. Work upstream and approach the fish and holes from the downstream side (you should be doing this anyways). Watch your body profile and shadows. Standing tall and casting big moving shadows over the water is a way to ensure you spook all of those wary trout. Try to blend in. You don't need to wear full camo or anything like that (though it doesn't hurt) but try not wear bold bright colors that make you stand out like a lit-up Christmas tree. Avoid wading as much as possible and move SLLLLOOOOOWWWWW. Every movement you make in the water is heard/felt by those trout in low water situations, especially in those slower and calmer areas. Slow down and sneak around. Whitewater and faster high gradient pocket water areas where there is naturally more movement and noise can mask you to some degree. Lighten up your presentation. If you're indicator nymphing, go smaller and lighter. On small creeks, most of the reusable bobber style indicators sound like a rock hitting the water. Lighten up your rig with small foam pinch on style indicators, or better yet, go with a dry dropper rig, and drop your tippet size. Lastly, be precise with your casts. As it is always the case in fly fishing, it's about quality, not quantity. The fish are unlikely to come out of their hiding areas much. You have to go to them. Your presentation is always the most important aspect. Quality of your casts/presentations is always more important than the quantity.

How about a bit of a recap of spring and summer? Spring was nearly the opposite of early fall. High water was the norm, which makes happy trout, but tough on anglers. With the majority of my guests being new to the sport and safety always being a priority, I postponed a good number of trips due to high water. If you're not comfortable wading and with pretty pushy flows, fly fishing higher water is very challenging. I'd rather postpone the trip and get you on the water when conditions are safer for you and more suitable/comfortable to your experience level as angler. However, fly fishing in higher water is very productive and I do recommend working to be comfortable in fairly pushy flows. This spring was pretty good for anglers comfortable with elevated flows, but challenging for those who aren't. Again, safety is always the first priority and I do err on the side of caution.

Helping a new fly angler land her first trout on a fly rod! An excellent day on a Central New York trout stream.

Spring fly fishing on Cape Cod was challenging. Each year, the striped bass numbers decrease. Without getting into an entirely different conversation, I'll just leave you with this. Mismanagement of the striped bass population on the Atlantic coast will lead to another moratorium. Anyone who argues that the striped bass fishing is good right now has their head up their butt. Yes, you will catch some good fish from time to time, but the overall numbers are downright terrible and have been getting worse year after year for 10+ years. While the numbers are bad, I still love hunting them. Saltwater fly fishing for us inlanders is an exciting change of pace and I still love going out to chase stripers and bluefish with my brother and cousin.

Summer was hot and dry. Early July was still good, but it was challenging after that. While spending some time at my Wife's family camp in the Adirondacks, we spent some time bushwhacking and catching wild brook trout on small springs and creeks, blue lining as the cool kids call it. This is all about being stealthy and sneaky. The deerflies and mosquitoes were the worst I've ever seen, but we had fun and caught plenty of brook trout.

Locally in Syracuse, the fishing was fine in the first few hours of daylight. Typically, our waters are cool enough to get on them for a couple of hours at first light. Once the sun is up, water temps get too warm and the trout find a cool shady refuge and don't participate much. Enjoying time at camp with family with countless kickball and wiffle ball games with my nephew and niece were in order, along with plenty of relaxing campfires.

We did not draw western hunting tags for this year. We were pretty sure we were headed to Montana for elk and mule deer, but with a bit of bad luck we didn't draw. We were about 90% sure we'd draw with our points, but better luck next year. It may be for the better anyhow. Spare time this fall is/was a little short. My wife and I lost our apartment due to a fire in an adjacent building. There was enough damage to our building to force us out permanently. An unplanned move really throws a nasty curveball into plans. Thankfully, everyone was safe and we have great support with family and friends to help us out.

Speaking of curveballs, the Yankees live to fight another day! Game 4 of the ALDS with Toronto is incoming! I still don't have high hopes...

What's next? October is busy and the fall season kicks off. Looking at my schedule, I'll have boots in the water nearly every day for the next 6ish weeks, which is how I like it. My wading boots will not dry and will continue to grow moss and transform into an elaborate science project. I'm looking forward to meeting new guests and seeing some familiar faces and friends this fall season. I am taking a few days to fly fish on my own and chase fall run stripers as well. The evening shoreline walleye bite will start soon. When my day is done on the streams chasing trout, I'll fish just a little bit more for those Oneida Lake walleye. A trip planned to Mississippi to visit my cousin is in store a little later in the fall and I'm looking forward to that. I've never been in that part of the country and it's always a great time connecting with him.

Thank you for reading and visiting my website. I hope some of the quick tips about fly fishing in low and clear water helps. While we did receive significant rain, we are still pretty far behind. I anticipate having low water conditions throughout the fall because we are so far behind, but any rain is always helpful. I'll have another update and post toward the end of the month or early November. Good luck on the streams and in the woods! It's the best time of year. Fishing, hunting, and playoff baseball. Thanks for reading!

My cousin with a personal best striped bass. Fishing was extremely tough and slow, and then this happened.