Week of September 29th 2025: Signs of Life

Week of September 29th: Signs of Life

Fall fly fishing feels different than the spring season.  Maybe the reason is we have not waited all winter for warm weather and water which compounds the anticipation of each hatch.  Instead, fall dry flies are hair wing caddies, stoneflies, BWOs, and a few lingering ISOs.  The pools, even at low levels, like today, feel slower and the takes, now that trout have  months of experience, seem subtle sips.  After the drought and elevated water temperatures this summer, the rivers seem - quiet. 

I witnessed a morning hatch on the Musky in Asbury this morning.  The long pool seemed still and in the rays of sun I saw a cloud of dancing bugs.  I really couldn't tell what they were and they were too far off the bank to catch with my hat.  They appeared too big to be blue-winged olives and were light in color.  The water’s surface was sporadically broken, including just under the hatch.  

I began scanning the river bed for movement.  I didn’t see them at first, but after I saw one “sucker” I saw the rest.  They were numerous, barely moving, and definitely not looking up.  A few more minutes revealed small bass cruising around as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if a trout or two would show up eventually.  I turned back to the bugs after an early October caddis caught my eye.  Unfortunately, other chores kept my rod in the car and I drove away thinking about the stocking in two weeks. 

See you out there, Roy B.