Fall may be coming, but it sure doesn’t feel like it with
triple digit temperatures in the greater central valley and foothills. The fall
season on Sierra stillwaters is the best time of the year for the fly angler.
Trout move into skinny water to feed, and as the water temperatures plummet they
can also find more comfortable water temps than the main body of the lake. By
“skinny water”, I mean water levels of 1 to 3 feet, and often the game is sight
fishing if the lighting is right. Depending on the fishery you can expect big
number days and constant action. Fall is also the time of year when I use my
Tracker Pro Deep V as a taxi rather than fishing from it, it’s all about
finding a productive shoreline with weed growth, a slot, or a transition zone
reaching out to deeper water. Trout behavior in the fall months are about one
thing, fattening up for the long haul over winter while living under an ice
sarcophagus. They are extremely greedy and often let their guard down. Shorter
leaders can be used with heavier tippet sizes, and a bad presentation can often
mean a hook up. It’s the complete opposite from the demanding and challenging
damsel game.
I’m often amazed how anglers try to over complicate their
equipment while fishing from the bank. In reality it’s the simplest form of fly
fishing a stillwater. One fly, or if you plan to use two flies, a big bugger
with a trailing callibaetis nymph. A 9 foot leader to 3x, and a weight forward
floating line. So many fly anglers think an intermediate is best from the
shore, but here is the truth. An intermediate line will sink faster than you
think, and in skinny water your fly will be lower than the level of active feeding
fish, which look up 90% of the time than down. Also with a floating line you
can slowly reach the level of the fish by counting down. Other variables can be
the weight of the fly, many of my flies are unweighted or only use one small
single bead. It’s all about depth control.
Depending on how hot the weather will remain for September
will be the deciding factor when the fish will start the fall gorge. Cooler
nights are on their way in, which really helps drop the water temperatures. This
month will be interesting nonetheless. So let’s take a look at what we can
expect from the two leading lakes of the northern Sierra.
Lake Davis – The current water level is 89% which is way up
there for the fall season. With those water levels, many of the bigger coves
will have adequate water levels in the far reaches of them. Do not ignore the
areas that have not seen a lot of angler pressure. Trout are shy creatures, and
if the food is there without fear of harassment, it can be really productive.
My sources from DFW shared with me that a recent electro shocking sample
revealed a little over 200 rainbows in the middle part of the lake, and nothing
was less than 20 inches. We’ll see the same results as the past but maybe a few
more in the net as we get into October. 1 to 5 fish, but they will be large. I’m
expecting to hear that a few 6 to 7 pound fish will be caught, they are in
there, that’s for sure. Because of the latter you can expect a smaller amount
of anglers on the water. September will see the last brood of the callibaetis
mayflies, and blood midges. Once the water temperatures fall below 55 degrees,
the hatches will wane out.
Frenchman’s Lake – After last June I’m most certain we will
see great fishing from Lake Davis’s little sister. I still have June 10th on my mind, the day we boated 62 fish, and missed dozens more. That’s what
Frenchman’s is known for, big numbers of trout when the conditions are right.
The lake level is currently at 84%. September will bring callibaetis hatches
and numerous midge hatches with several different species out and about.
Indicator fishing will be strong. As water temperatures drop, and the sun takes
a lower arc in the sky, the fish will go on the fall gorge. I’ve always done
better here with bigger flies like wooly buggers, or Jay Fair’s stripping flies.
The takes aren’t always aggressive, and most often they are light, so keep a
tight leash to your fly. If the lake does not freeze up early, do not forget
about November and focusing on the south end of the lake. It’s going to be a
great fall season at Frenchman’s.
I’ll be guiding both lakes until ice up, but when inclement
weather and snow comes in for good, I bring my boat back down here in Nevada
City. For the rest of the season it’s a walk and wade game, which is really no hindrance
since the fish will be prowling the banks. A couple days near the end of
September is all that is left on my guide calendar, and a few weeks in October.
There are plenty of days for November open at this time. Don’t procrastinate -
book your date now before it is too late. Call me at 530.228.0487, or email me
at baiocchistroutfitters@yahoo.com
to reserve your day.
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