Angling Publications - Index

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

tion contact Rivers Edge Trading Co. (978-
921-8008; david@riversedgetrading.com).
MICHIGAN
Fall is prime time on Michigan's numerous
Great Lakes Tributaries, like the Pere Marquette,
Muskegon, and Grand Rivers. Beginning as early
as July, and lasting well into December, lucky
Midwest fly fishers will find king salmon, lakerun
brown trout, and steelhead making their way
up rivers across the state. Although some rivers
do offer wade fishing opportunities depending
on water levels, this fishing is best accessed from
a drift boat with a knowledgeable guide. Expect
plenty of action during the height of the salmon
run, and long hours with fewer fish when the
steelhead arrive later in the season. Since timing
is everything with anadromous fish, your
best bet is always to check in with a fly shop or
book a guide first. On Michigan's famous Pere
Marquette River, contact the Pere Marquette
River Lodge in Baldwin (231-745-3973; www.
pmlodge.com). This Orvis Endorsed Outfitter
offers a full line of fly gear and flies for this
fishing, expert guide service, and comfortable
lodging just minutes from great fishing.
MINNESOTA
Before the season closes it's well worth a trip
to Minnesota's trout and warmwater fisheries
for some fantastic fall fishing. Despite heavy
late summer rains in the southern half of the
state, fly fishers should find some quality fishing
opportunities on trout streams like the South
Branch of the Root River. Late in the season look
for fish to start keying on blue-winged olives
along with a few remaining summer hoppers.
Stripping a streamer through deeper runs is also
a good bet for aggressive pre-spawn browns.
Warmwater anglers have plenty of good options
in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes.? Rivers like the
St. Croix and Upper Mississippi offer fine fall
smallmouth, pike, and muskie fly fishing until
the snow flies. For more information on this fishing
and all your tackle needs, stop by Bentley's
Outfitters in Bloomington (952-828-9554;
www.bentleysoutfitters.com), or book a day on
the water with my friend Kip Vieth (612-72-
DRIFT; www.wildwoodfloattrips.com).
MISSISSIPPI
Now is the time to be focusing your attention
on the unbelievable fall redfishing found in the
Biloxi marsh. This expansive wilderness found
along the boarder of Mississippi and Louisiana is
truly a redfish and specked trout paradise. With
cooling fall breezes and cool, clear water, big bull
reds will be hunting in shallow water feeding
on crabs and mullet for the long winter. This
is the finest shallow water sight fishing found
anywhere. These fish average 15 pounds, with
many caught in the 30- and 40-pound class. Big
crab and mullet patterns produce well. These fish
are much more forgiving to beginning anglers
than their Florida cousins. For more information
contact Jason Stacy at (850) 534-4343; www.
ShallowWaterExpeditions.com
MISSOURI
September is the time to catch big rainbows and
browns at night, says Clearwater Outfitters
(573-443-4940) in Columbia. The shop points
anglers to the tailwater of Lake Taneycomo and
suggests nocturnal anglers present size-8 to -12
white woolly buggers on 3x tippet. If you like
to fish during daylight hours, the shop suggests
size-16 and -18 Dave's harvester midges, olive
and black woolly buggers, and tan scuds. Swinging
size-18 or -20 soft hackles in a gentle current
is also effective. The secret to both daytime
and nighttime success is to fish when only one
generator is in operation.
MONTANA
"Undiscovered. Uncrowded. Scenic. Like Montana
used to be 50 years ago!? These are the
words Richard Winston of Kootenai River
Outfitters (800-537-8288; www.kroutfitters.
com) used to describe this fishery tucked way up
in the northwest corner of Montana. The main
attraction is the Kootenai River below the Libby
Dam. This big river is best fished from a drift
boat. Wade fishing is very limited unless flows
drop below 800 c.f.s. September weather is nice
and bug free. The river is lower and crystal clear,
and picky trout demand quality casts. Expect
native redband rainbows and cutts in the 10-
to 14-inch range. They will be up to PMDs,
lime-green midges, hoppers, and caddis. For
14- to 20-inch fish and occasional bull trout, use
streamers and big bugs. The state record rainbow
(33 pounds) came from this water.
NEBRASKA
Got bass? Nebraska does, and then some. With
innumerable lakes and farm ponds to choose
from it's just a matter of time before you'll find
yourself hooked up with a big, old, Cornhusker
bucket-mouth. Burchard Lake, Walnut Creek,
and Zorinsky are some of the better late-season
choices. Given the impending winter, it's no
secret that bass can be pretty aggressive when the
opportunity presents itself. The same goes for
panfish, white bass, pike, and other warmwater
species. Although top-water action slows with declining
water temps, you'll still find fish shallow
and close to cover. Try fishing different depths
with a Clouser or crayfish to target fish in these
and other areas. For the latest on Nebraska fishing,
and all your tackle needs, stop by Cabela's
in Sidney (308-254-7889; www.cabelas.com).
NEVADA
Walking along the edge of a six acre lake, you
spot a cruising trout. Casting ahead of the fish,
you patiently wait until the trout spots your offering.
Sure enough, he sees it, accelerates and
takes it on the fly. The fight is on with powerful
runs and splashing jumps. Finally you bring a
shiny 5-pound brown to net. While this might
be a trophy in many western waters, it is just an
average fish here. This is Smith Creek Ranch
(800-330-2248), on the eastern slope of Desatoya
Peak in central Nevada 2.5 hours east of
Reno. As temps drop the fish become increasingly
active. The lake holds an abundance of rainbows
and browns in the 3- to 10-pound range.
Woolly buggers and dragon fly nymphs work
well, but watch for rising fish. These large trout
could be sipping size-22 midges off the surface,
and monsters on midges make a great day even
better. The rod fee is modest, and bed and breakfast
accommodations are available at the ranch.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
One of the best kept secrets in the Granite State
is the big-trout fishery below Moore Dam on
the Connecticut River outside Littleton. Moore
Reservoir is substantial, and is a good bass and
pike fishery in its own right (along with some
stocked trout), but when the dam pushes big
water, the sizable perch population gets flushed
through, sometimes in pieces. This 'chum line'
attracts large trout that congregate below the
dam for the feast. These fish are measured in
pounds, not inches. The rest of the time they
move back to holding lies in the pools below,
and behave like trout eating bugs, but they
do have an affinity for perch streamers and
imitations of perch fry. For more information
contact Ken Hastings of Osprey Fishing
Adventures (603-922-3800; www.ospreyfishingadventures.com).
NEW JERSEY
Fishing for bluefish, stripers, and false albacore
in the fall along the Atlantic coast can be superb.
Key on the baitfish the fish are concentrating on,
such as peanut bunker, silversides, anchovies,
and others. Use Lefty's deceivers, Clouser deep
minnows, and Popovics surf candy-the size of
the fly is more important than color, particularly
for the albies that cruise the area. Dave Frassinelli
at The Fly Hatch in Shrewsbury (732-530-
6784; www.flyhatch.com) reports the key to
taking fish is to 'match the hatch;' that is, mimic
the baitfish to the greatest extent possible. All of
the gamefish species are in the surf when the bait
is in, or just offshore. As always, watch for birds
diving and swooping on the water.
NEW MEXICO
There's a beautiful stream hidden away in the
Santa Fe National Forest just north of Albuquerque.
The East Fork of the Jemez River joins
the main river at Battleship Rock. A day-use
area provides access to the river. A hiking trail
parallels it up into higher country. The stream
itself is small with a mixture of deep pockets
and pools along with some riffles. The water is
well populated with browns and rainbows. In
fall the browns are a bit easier to catch as they
become more aggressive. Because the water is
very clear, a careful approach and some rock
scrambling are required. Short casts are the
order of the day. A two-fly rig of an attractor
dry-such as a coachman trude and beadhead
nymph-has proven successful. For more information
contact Charlie's Sporting Goods at
(505) 275-3006.
NEW YORK
Montauk is legendary for striped bass, blues and
false albacore in the fall, with fish crashing bay
anchovies from just after Labor Day into October.
The weather can deliver almost anything
this time of year, but the fish are there, and when
the herring move in later on, bass to 40 pounds
come with them. Any day can see one or all of
these gamefish in calm or difficult water, but
this is what we wait for all year and dream of
through the winter. For more information call or
e-mail Captain Matthew Miller (631-275-6770;
Matt@montaukfly-light.com).
NORTH CAROLINA
Cool nights and plenty of rain this summer are
resulting in some of western North Carolina's
best fishing of the year. The biggest fish are
falling prey to hoppers, terrestrials, tarantulas,
Chernobyl ants and Madame X's. This is also a
great time for nymphing. Good patterns include
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