While the calendar still says it is summer, kids are back in school and Autumn is in the air. We've been seeing some obvious signs of fall, the leaves are already brightening, nights are getting cooler, and the fall hatches have already begun.
Hayden's first trout on the fly was a Buck wild brookie that ate an Elk Hair Caddis skaded using a Red brook Tenkara Rod.
We've been fishing all local waters as of late and have done well everywhere. The Saco was fishing well last week with flying ant swarms on the warmer days bringing most fish to the surface. With cooler weather on it's way it looks like the midge and BWO bite will be the ticket for dry flies. With rain in the forecast this author is looking forward to getting redeption on some larger brown trout that will be getting aggressive towards streamers.
Client Mark with a frisky brown that slow rolled his way into engulfing a size 16 cinnamon ant.
The Andro has been fishing well, particularly on early mornings and cooler days when water temps have been lower. With a cold front rushing in tonight and cooler weather in the extended forecast look for the andro to begin fishing well during mid-morning to later afternoon hours. Water temps should get well under 70 degrees and hold there for the remainder of the season keeping fish active well into the afternoons.
Jay Shields with a healthy wild rainbow from the Andro. Caught on a dry dropper Iso rig...ate the dropper this time.
We've been seeing sporadic hatches of Isonychia on the Andro most days., As a rule of thumb if you see a large mayfly rising from the river, even just one, you should be throwing a large purple haze dry fly or a pheasant tail nymph in size 10-14. When th Iso's aren't active we have been seeing olive caddis on most mornings. We have also taken fish on streamers like the kreelix and large buggers when no bugs are on the water.
What's to come?
With the cooler weather in the forecast fishing should improve on the Andro over the next few days and hold steady through later October for dry fly fishing and nymphing. From there streamer fishing will be your best bet to tag a big fish. On the Saco things will transition from the terrestrials of summer to small dries and big streamers. This is some of th most technical dry fly fishing of the seaon or some of the most exciting streamer fishing...bottom line fish really small or really big!
Our client Ethan landed this fine specimen on one of our custom HCG Isonychia dry flies.
We look forward to seeing many of you this fall!
Nate