Week of October 26th 2025: Cross Quarter Days

Week of October 26th: Cross Quarter Days

There is something magical about a rise form in a trout pool in autumn.  The ripples reflect the leaves in the trees causing waves of living colors. The movement is less expected and cause for excitement when all is quiet and still. Each day is a little shorter and a little cooler and everyday, from here till February, will see fewer and fewer bugs in the air.  

Caddis and BWOs are likely culprits when we see or hear a splash, but the midge hatch has been noticeable in the slanted rays of afternoon sun.  On the lower end of the Musky TCA, the resident chub and a few remaining bluegill reveal the prolific midge hatches if you stand to watch them late in the afternoon on especially warm days.  They rise with regularity and may attempt to eat fairly large #14 caddis and Adams, but their mouths are often too small for their gustatory aspiration and they’ll swipe and miss the take. The chubb are not huge, but the dry-fly take is sometimes the point.  It would be nice if some of the recently added rainbow trout would follow their cue and feed from the surface with the same regularity and gusto!  

Instead, the best bet is to fish subsurface, under a dry fly or indicator, for the foreseeable future. Trout targeting emerging midges can be seen “flashing” up and down the water column as they catch the sun upon turning to eat.  The shop has the eggs, RS2s, and WD40s that will become the staple diet for winter fish in NJ.  Buggers and small streamers can mix things up if the dead drift game isn’t working.  

The wild brown trout are still sitting on their redds in the braided riffles and long, slow and shallow runs; keep out and far away from streambeds that even look like they could be nesting grounds.  Focus on the deep pools and fast moving runs that trout will head for when they are hungry and ready to feed. 

Head into the shop or give us a call to hear about the most recent conditions.  

See you out there,  Roy B.