Early fall fly fishing on Oatka

Mid-September on Oatka

Before all the lake run salmon and trout really get going, I decided to get out one last time to my favorite trout stream – Oatka Creek.

Early fall fishing on Oatka can be amazing. Not only is there some fall color starting to show itself, but I often have the stream and the trout all to myself, and some pretty nice trout at that!

One of the best ways to put fish in the net during this time is dead drifting small midge patterns, especially in low clear water like I had on that afternoon.

I started with a #16 PT nymph pattern, and when that didn’t produce I switched it up and tied on a #18 red worm pattern as my point fly with a smaller #20 zebra midge as the dropper.

A two fly rig can sometimes be a bit of a hassle, but the payoff can be more than worth it. And fishing this rig can often be the big difference maker for the day.

Smallest of the day. Caught on #20 zebra midge.

Several casts later I was into my first Oatka brown of the day. Not a big fish mind you, but at least I was on the board. Every fish from then on was a bonus, and I didn’t stop working the pool until I was joined by my friend Curtis. He took over and quickly landed his first fish – A gorgeous fifteen inch wild Oatka brown.

I only landed one more fish before I had to leave, but by then Curtis was well on his way to taking control of the situation, and later verified it by a few photos.

Oatka gold

I may not get back to Oatka for a while, but after a great afternoon of fishing like the one I had, it should make the wait bearable. 

We don’t always get the opportunity to get out and fish when we want, and when we do, the fishing isn’t always great. So as always, I make the most out of every chance I get and am thankful for it.

Another golden brownie caught on the #18 red worm pattern

#18 red worm strikes again

A beautiful brown landed with the help of my JP Ross 4 weight and a #20 zebra midge

Curtis with his nice 15" brown

A #18 red worm pattern was the fly of the afternoon

See you on the stream.

Fall Tricos

Some fall color along the path to the stream

If there was ever a month in the year in Western New York that could reinvigorate the outdoorsman in all of us, it has to be September. 

The mornings are noticeably cooler, we start to receive some cool fall rain, leaves start to turn, apples are now ready to be picked, hunters are preparing tree stands, and fishermen from all over the world start watching for the first reports of salmon being caught in the local tributaries. And some will drive long distances to just a few select rivers that get early runs of fish for just the chance to do battle with that first chromed out king salmon. And I don’t blame them one bit!

A #20 female trico dun

But before the fall migration of Lake Run salmon and trout get into full swing out here in Western New York, don’t forget that there is still plenty of time to take full advantage of some other equally amazing fly fishing. And don’t get me wrong either, I like those giants from the lake just like anyone else, but when you still have an opportunity to get into some fantastic dry fly fishing at your local inland trout stream, you gotta go for it!

Since the end of July, the tricos have been going strong. And even now with the weather and seasons changing, they are still out in force – And so are the trout.

A nice small stream brown taken on a #22 trico spinner

These small mayflies will start at a robust size #20 at the beginning of their hatch cycle and will gradually diminish in size until the fall where they are now a size #24-#26. So not only will it be a challenge to see the fly on the water, it will now be difficult to hook up and land fish.

Wading carefully and precise casts with long light leaders is now the name of the game. 

Even the rain can't stop the bugs...or the trout!

#24 trico spinners and their smaller companions

Fishing early in the morning with small dun patterns or emerger patterns have worked well for me in the past. And once the spinner fall gets going your standard trico spinner pattern will work just fine in a matching size or smaller.  But your cast and drift will have to be right on the money to get consistent action. I would also recommend having some small midge patterns in white and the ever popular Griffith’s Gnat or other midge cluster patterns in your box, not to mention any other small variation of ultra small dries you may want to try. The point is – it pays to throw something different at the trout even during an amazing spinner fall to differentiate your fly from all the rest. And if any of you have seen the amount of biomass that falls into our local stream during the spinner fall, you already know what I mean.

The fishing reports from all the local inland trout streams are really solid. And until we get those first few days of frost, it should remain that way.

#22 trico spinner does the trick again

A rising trout taking advantage of a spinner fall

A nicely colored up brown trout ready for fall

See you out there!

Fishing with Dad Part 2

My Dad with his first ever solo fly rod caught brown trout.

Before my parents made their trek back to their home in the Adirondacks, my Dad and I had one last chance to fish together. 

Pink scuds are often a good choice

With cold weather persisting and no sign of spring approaching any time soon, we made our way to a local creek that holds some beautiful wild trout that we were hoping would be hungry enough and foolish enough to eat a few of our finely dressed hooks.

Standing in forty seven degree water seemed warm considering our last trip that required us to wade and fish in near freezing water of a local tributary in search of Lake Run trout – a trip that produced no fish. 

My Dad playing a wild brown

For the next hour or so we took turns fishing a pool that held a good fifty or so trout. The clear water made them easy to see, but agonizingly frustrating at times to try and take a fly. After several fly changes, adjustments to indicator and weight we managed to put some fish on the rod. And I am happy to say that my Dad caught his first ever solo caught trout on the fly. Even the cold wind that started to blow through every layer of clothing couldn’t convince us to leave early – There were fish to be caught, and we were doing it together!

#16-#18 red worm patterns also catch their fare share of fish

We ended the day with a few more fish to hand for each of us. And by then, the cold had really started to set in and the walk back to the van was welcome as it gave us some warmth.

I’m very glad that we stuck it out on this day. For some reason I seem to pick the worst times to get out on the stream when my brother and dad come in for fishing trips. They always hear me say “you should have been here last week” or “yesterday there were fish everywhere” and I can never seem to replicate those experiences when they come out with me. We made it happen though, and I’m glad we could finally put a good trip in the bag.

Another golden brown that fell victim to a well placed fly

Thanks for coming out with me Dad!

Fishing with Dan

A little over a week ago I had the pleasure of fishing with an old friend. Dan and I hit up a small inland trout stream and had blast catching some gorgeous wild brown trout.....in mid-winter!

For the whole story please check out my other blog post at the JP Ross Fly Rod website.

Here are a few photos to warm you up.

Dan holds one of a few wild brown trout he caught while stripping a streamer

Small inland wild brown taken on a small midge pattern

A heavily spotted wild brown that ate a #16 red worm

Another fish falls victim to the red worm