09-14-2006, 05:29 PM
[cool][#0000ff]It is kinda hard to generalize, because every lake and every species has their own peculiar quirks. As most of us know, conditions can change quickly and there can be different hatches or the availability of other forage.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have several lakes that I fish regularly and each of them can be completely different during the same period. But, as a general rule, once the fall pattern of weather is established, and water temps begin to drop, the fish in most lakes put on the feed bag. That usually means that they like a mouthful rather than an appetizer. I have done serious damage in the fall on big ol' buggers and zonkers...and even big hairwing streamers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]On the other hand, you can sometimes find some late afternoon hatches of smaller fare, or even late windblown terrestrials, that have the fish sipping the smaller stuff.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In many of our Utah Lakes, the trout cruise the shallows picking off the sub 2" fry of several species. That's when a small white bugger or streamer, fished on floating or sink tip line can score some decent fish in skinny water.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Probably the most important thing is to know the lake and the patterns of the fish throughout the seasons. Always take some "overlap" flies, to handle late summer or early winter conditions and then do your homework to figure out a pattern.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That is one of the best arguments for keeping a fishing log and to always record the details of each trip...air temp, wind conditions, water temp., hatches or forage situations, best flies and presentations, etc. Then, around the same time in following years you can at least have a place to start.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have several lakes that I fish regularly and each of them can be completely different during the same period. But, as a general rule, once the fall pattern of weather is established, and water temps begin to drop, the fish in most lakes put on the feed bag. That usually means that they like a mouthful rather than an appetizer. I have done serious damage in the fall on big ol' buggers and zonkers...and even big hairwing streamers.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]On the other hand, you can sometimes find some late afternoon hatches of smaller fare, or even late windblown terrestrials, that have the fish sipping the smaller stuff.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In many of our Utah Lakes, the trout cruise the shallows picking off the sub 2" fry of several species. That's when a small white bugger or streamer, fished on floating or sink tip line can score some decent fish in skinny water.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Probably the most important thing is to know the lake and the patterns of the fish throughout the seasons. Always take some "overlap" flies, to handle late summer or early winter conditions and then do your homework to figure out a pattern.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That is one of the best arguments for keeping a fishing log and to always record the details of each trip...air temp, wind conditions, water temp., hatches or forage situations, best flies and presentations, etc. Then, around the same time in following years you can at least have a place to start.[/#0000ff]
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