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Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - Fly Fish America - September 2007 Issue - Index

flies-glo bugs, silver Hiltons, or maybe a
brindle bug. Follow Hwy. 96 and stop often.
Check in at Eureka Fly Shop (707-444-2000)
for hot patterns and areas.
COLORADO
There's no finer experience in fly fishing than
to travel into the high country to pursue wild
cutthroat trout. One place you can still experience
this rare adventure is the Roan Plateau near
Rifle. Bumping over dirt roads you climb a 4,000
foot bluff, then crest onto a beautiful plateau
covered in wildflowers. An easy mile or so hike
downstream brings you to Trapper Creek, the
prime location for Colorado River cutts. The
stream is small and brush covered, but it's full of
native beauties. Approach carefully and float an
elk hair caddis downstream over rocks or under
branches to get to the fish. Keith Goddard of
Magnum Outfitters (970-876-2225) will
take you to this slice of outdoor heaven, but
you'd better hurry. The BLM is anxious to lease
the whole plateau for gas wells. In the likely
event this happens, the beauty and the trout
will be lost forever in less than a year. To learn
about the plight of the Roan Plateau and other
pristine western wilderness being gobbled up by
oil and gas interests, see www.tu.org and look
up the Public Lands Initiative.
CONNECTICUT
Fall on the Farmington brings tiny size-24 to
-28 blue-winged olives which are a challenge on
any water. Fish emergers as long as the fish will
respond, before switching to duns. The fish will
be very shy and a parachute is recommended for
the adult stage, with great care given to precise
presentation. The flies must be very sparse, and
thread bodies are all the bulk you need. This has
been a good year for bigger fish, so get to the
river. When open water exists later in the year,
the primary hatch is size-18 to -20 black winter
caddis, tied in both black and amber. These are
active insects moving across the surface. There
are also, of course, the ever-present midges best
imitated by Griffith's gnats and a variety of
pupae, both in sizes 20 through 28. For more
information contact Dave Goulet at Classic &
Custom Fly Shop (860-738-3597).
DELAWARE
Fishing for trout stocked in streams, warmwater
fishes in the rivers, and various saltwater species
should remain good well into the fall. Look
for stripers on top, particularly if you can fish
from a boat. Terry Peach at A Marblehead
Flyfisher, a full-service shop in Centreville
(302-654-6515; www.amarbleheadflyfisher.
com), says trout in White Clay Creek should
rise to dries imitating midges, Baetis, and caddis.
Subsurface nymphs and streamers also work
well. In the salt, Terry says the Lewes/Cape
Henlopen area is best, with chances for anglers
to score on stripers, bluefish, and possibly false
albacore if conditions are right. Delaware is a
little state with some big fishing.
FLORIDA
Fall is here and the fish are hungry! Every year,
the cooler temps spawn a feeding frenzy both
inshore and offshore. These fish are fattening
up for winter and fly anglers can reap the benefits.
Whether you're stalking redfish on the flats
or chasing schools of toothy bluefish busting
in the surf, you'll want to get in on this action!
Nearshore-False albacore will be found
inshore in huge schools all up and down the
panhandle. They are of the larger fall variety,
commonly found offshore. These fish provide
an incredible fight on fly tackle. I carry two
9-weight outfits when targeting them-one
with a floating line, 9-foot 12-pound Leader,
and size-2 Crease fly, and the other with a clear
intermediate line, 8-foot fluorocarbon leader,
and a glass minnow imitation, Johnny's angel
in size-2. Be sure to cut the engine and drift
into these schools.
Surf/Jetties-Surf fishing will be good
throughout the fall with BIG bluefish and plenty
of Spanish mackerel and ladyfish. Use fluorocarbon
shock tippet for these toothy fish. The
top-water bite can be awesome. These fish will be
on the move and so will you, so be sure to carry
your stripping basket. There's also a strong run
of fall pompano to be caught on size-4, heavily
weighted Clousers. Bull reds will be feeding on
crabs along the jetties, on or near the surface, on
outgoing tides near the full moon. Floating crab
patterns on 10-weights produce. These fish can
be in excess of 30 pounds.
Flats/Bay-Fall is my favorite time to target
tailing redfish. They have their heads down and
are eating with reckless abandon. Often I have
poled the boat right on top of these fish. They
can get so preoccupied with feeding that they
seem unaware of the boat. White shrimp enter
the bay systems in huge numbers as well as
"finger mullet.? Gator-sized speckled trout are
also found cruising alongside the reds. For more
information or to book a charter, contact Jason
Stacy at Old Florida Outfitters (850-534-
4343; www.shallowwaterexpeditions.com).
GEORGIA
Routine precipitation this year has kept water
levels good for north Georgia's rivers and
streams. The upper and West Fork of the Chattooga
are fishing especially well using a variety
of terrestrial and attractor patterns. Stimulators,
humpies, parachute Wullfs, and Travis para-ant
patterns in sizes 12 and 14 are favorites of the
staff at Orvis Atlanta (404- 841-0093). Tailrace
fisheries, like the Chattahoochee and Toccoa,
are also fishing well. Size-16 tungsten prince
nymphs with a flashback pheasant tail or hare's
ear dropper in sizes 18 and 20 do the job of
duping Georgia's tailwater trout.
IDAHO
Northeast of Ashton the Warm River joins the
Henrys Fork. Just above the junction there's a
campground on the Warm. The water is great
and it's full of stocked rainbows. But I prefer the
upper Warm River. Forest Road 154 takes you
to a huge spring gushing out of the side of a hill,
with great fishing for rainbows. Better yet, follow
Warm River Road (FR 150) upstream to Pole
Bridge Campground. Here you'll find a small
stream full of brilliant brook trout, and while not
big, they make up for it in aggression. They take
most flies, but an elk hair caddis with a beadhead
brassie worked great. Best of all, there's nobody
fishing the Warm this time of year!
ILLINOIS
Illinois fly fishers enjoy a wide range of late-season
opportunities within easy driving distance
of Chicago. Beginning in September, you'll
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