Angling Publications - Index

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

girdle bugs, inch worms and Coffey's stoneflies.
Other good dries are size-16 to -20 BWOs,
size-18 and -20 cream midges, size-12 and -14
humpies, and size-14 to -26 peacock caddis.
Lowe Fly Shop specializes in local patterns of
North Carolina and provides up to date information
at (828) 452-0039.
NORTH DAKOTA
Before you hang up the rod and waders, check
out the fine late-season fishing in the Sheyenne
and Red Rivers. With lower water levels and aggressive
smallmouth, pike, and other warmwater
species on the feed, both should be in prime
shape. Fargo area lakes and ponds also hold an
abundance of warmwater species. Depending
on water temps, most fish will be feeding subsurface,
so break out the Clousers, deceivers,
and crayfish patterns. For the latest on NoDak
fishing opportunities and all your tackle needs,
see the Scott Stenshoel at Scheels in Fargo
(701-298-2918; www.scheels.com).
OHIO
Like big fish that pull hard? Then hard-fighting
salmon, lake-run browns and steelhead are the
fish for you. With numerous accessible and
wadeable Lake Erie tributaries within an easy
drive from many Midwest cities, it's worth a
trip for this great late-season fishing. Some of
the better options include the Grand, Vermillion,
Chagrin, and Rocky Rivers. All support
healthy runs of fish and, depending on water
levels and weather conditions, good fishing well
into November and December. Elk and Walnut
Creeks just across the border in Pennsylvania
are also good choices if you've got the time.
Fly choice is generally easy, with natural- and
hot-colored egg patterns, sucker spawn, and
streamers being perennial favorites. Grand
River Tackle in Fairport Harbor (440-352-
7222; www.grandrivertackle.com) offers a full
line of flies and fly fishing gear-along with
plenty of helpful advice-to make the most of
late-season fishing.
OKLAHOMA
There are 12 lakes inside the Wichita Mountains
Wildlife Refuge, each with a unique personality.
Cache Creek Outfitters (580-353-1724)
in Lawton suggests anglers sample several of
them for largemouth, smallmouth, and bluegill.
Most of the lakes can be waded and feature
rock formations that hold fish. Bluegill are still
bedding in the shallows and are very aggressive.
Bass are active early and late, but will become
more energetic as the weather cools. Size-4
chartreuse/white or black/red Clousers are great
patterns for bass. Don't forget to pin a few poppers
in your fly box.
44
OREGON
Bad news for the mega-popular North Fork
Umpqua summer steelhead fishery. This year's
summer-run return is the lowest in 40 years,
and that trickle of struggling survivors was hit
with summer water temperatures that went
through the roof, worrying state biologists
about disease, spawning success and possible
oxygen depletion.
On the upside, the Grande Ronde in the
northeast corner is hitting its stride for aggressive
summer-runs. Lots of fish from late
September on, and 'Ronde steelies have a sweet
spot for big dries skated and swung across the
low flow. The upper 'Ronde is also hot now for
wild native trout, some big enough to strain 6x
tippet. Check in at Four Seasons Fly Shoppe
(541-963-8420). For a fun change, grab the
6-weight, sink tip and intermediate lines, a box
of shad-smolt-imitating streamers and work the
rip-rap, reefs and rocks of the Columbia between
Hood River and The Dalles. The target is smallmouth
bass, many in the 2- to 5-pound range.
The action holds up deep into October and is
faster than anyone expects. Check with Gorge
Fly Shop at (541) 386-6977. And it would be
criminal not to mention the lower Deschutes
near I-84. A big wad of summer steelhead surge
into the Deschutes in September/October, aggressive
and perfect for Spey rods and attractor
patterns. Ask for hot patterns at Kaufmann's
Streamborn (503-639-7004).
PENNSYLVANIA
Lake Erie steelhead are the name of the
game, according to the staff at the Lake Erie
Ultimate Angler in Erie (814-833-4040;
www.lakeerieultimateangler.com). These beautiful
fish run into Walnut and Elk Creeks on the
west side of town, and up the 'mile' creeks to
the east. The mile creeks are so-named for their
distance from the city of Erie. Many of the lake
tributaries, including Four-, Six-, Seven-, Twelve-
and Sixteen Mile Creeks, have runs of steelies.
The shop recommends using 6- to 8-weight rods
with floating lines, and 7-foot leaders tapering to
3x or 4x. A strike indicator is your option. The
key to success is a drag-free, natural drift of colorful
egg patterns, sucker spawn, various beadhead
nymphs, or the ubiquitous woolly bugger.
RHODE ISLAND
Seasonal migration and blitzes are more intense
in the fall, and the less crowded coast is packed
with bruiser-class bluefish to start off the
southward parade. We're talking about water
churned to foam by feeding fish, and the later
in the season the fewer the numbers of anglers.
The bass are there too, and the later season
with bait present can often bring 50 fish days,
with plenty of larger fish in the mix, and in
shallow sheltered water much of the time. If all
that isn't enough there are bonita and albies as
well. I regularly fish this area all fall, well into
November and later. Knowing where the action
is and when to be there, like any coastal area is
key, so for more up-to-date information call, or
better yet visit, Carr's Rod-and-Gun in Hope
(401-821-7582).
SOUTH CAROLINA
Clear waters and tailing redfish make September
the beginning of some of the finest fishing
available in coastal South Carolina. Rootbeer
bendbacks, Peterson's silversides, epoxy shrimp,
flexo crabs, and chartreuse Clousers are good
choices for both reds and trout. Redfish are
finished podding up, and lone fish are easy
targets for fly rodders. Look for mud plumes as
they search out bait in shallow water and present
your fly in the middle of the cloudy water. For
more information give Tuck Scott a call at Bay
Street Outfitters (877-501-5001).
SOUTH DAKOTA
With fire season just about over and winter on
the way, the late season is a great time to check
out the wonders and great fishing in South
Dakota's spectacular Black Hills. Most anglers
begin their exploration on Rapid and Spearfish
Creeks, but there are others to choose from-
along with some great lake fishing-throughout
this little-fished area. Early fall should find fish
still eating on top, with terrestrials and BWOs
the most popular fare. If the fish won't come
up, try fishing deep with beadhead nymphs,
stoneflies, and streamers. Local knowledge is key,
so stop by or call Hans at Dakota Angler &
Outfitter (605-341-2450; www.flyfishsd.
com) to make the most of fall fishing in SoDak.
TENNESSEE
September brings a slowing down of hatches,
but streamer fishing is at its best. Our favorite
streamer patterns include gray and white Clousers,
dark woolly buggers, muddlers, and gray
ghosts, all good imitations of the threadfin shad,
sculpins, darters, and minnows prevalent at this
time of year. Don't forget to have plenty of your
favorite midge larva and pupa patterns in sizes
18 to 22. Scuds and sowbugs in sizes 16 to 20
should always be in your boxes since they are in
the rivers year 'round. Contact Southeastern
Anglers for the latest details (866-558-7688;
danelaw@southeasternanglers.com).
TEXAS
The lower Texas coast is fishing well, reports
Tackle Box Outfitters (210-821-5806) in
San Antonio. Summer breezes often disappear
in September, with many mornings dead calm.
The still water allows you to spot tailing and
waking redfish. The Lower Laguna Madre flats,
from South Padre to Mansfield, are holding lots
of cooperative fish. The shop mentioned that the
Green Island area is one of their favorites. Size-6
pink/white Clousers are a good option for both
reds and specks.
For the freshwater fly anglers, Tackle Box
Outfitters suggests the Llano River near
Mason. There is good access in the area, making
the river easy to fish. Dove season opens in September
and many outdoorsmen trade in their fly
rods for smoothbores, thereby reducing fishing
pressure. It's a great time to be on the water. The
clear water of the Llano holds good populations
of largemouth, native Guadalupe bass, and a
variety of colorful sunfish. Turks tarantula is a
great pattern for river bass.
UTAH
The Sixth Water Creek flows west through the
Uinta National Forest, joining the Diamond
Fork high in the Wasatch Range south of Provo.
Its flow is supplemented by releases through a
tunnel from Strawberry Reservoir. The result
is a 'tailwater' fishery with near constant flows
year 'round, and superb fishing. Browns are the