Show Fall is the best time tierce of year for stream fishing by Hartt Wixom Vernal Express Outdoors Writer With all the focus on hunting fall fishing has taken a back seat But the seasons season's best fishing is here In some cases the years year's first stream angling is here Many waters including the Logan Blacksmith Fork and Uinta Mountain streams have just lowered to fishing size This is also true of Wyoming and Idaho's fabled fly rivers including Salt Green tributaries of the Snake the main river riveris riveris is barely clear enough for spin casting Blackfoot and those places like Arizona's Grand Canyon of the Colorado Fly fishing is better now for three reasons water clarity cooler temperatures which activates metabolism almost dormant in hot sum sum- summer summer mer months and also kill insects at the same time fish are searching for them In addition with brown and brook trout they are more likely to be prowling about now because of the spawning urge When the latter is in full swing fish dont don't feed much But just before and after these oversized trout are less fussy about what they crush in those giant jaws What it means is that even though you have fished Weber Provo Duchesne the Sevier River tributaries or others you youcan youcan can expect better results now Things will usually peak depending on weather about early November on the lower lower streams by October mid in higher ones like Wyoming's Salt and Green When water temperatures reach about 40 degrees degrees and and the stream appears black and nearly opaque in the la late te autumn sun fish are less active It is different in lakes with warmer temperatures lingering Places like Strawberry Reservoir may not climax until well into November Many serious dont don't even zero zeto in on on lowland lakes until late October Since flies dont don't flit about much this time lime of year best technique seems to he be a dead drift With nightly frost killing insects and winds drifting them shoreward even bank anglers seem to have a chance at this time For the trophy trout fisherman now is also the hot button bonanza period below Lees Lee's Ferry So many lb 10 trout are arenow arenow now being taken in the Grand Canyon that some Utah commercial guides are gearing special expeditions for the new super trout These trips are usually a week or more in length since you cant can't take out just any place But rainbows of four to six pounds are almost common and many are being hooked over ten Plus you get the thrill of challenging some exciting rapids This is even better better than when I floated it two years ago landing many in the 6 4 lb Ib bracket rainbows bracket rainbows which come fly fly- ing out of the white water like a rodeo bronc in an opened chute Anglers are also looking at their last i f chances on the high lakes Including everything from Tony Grove on the north to Boulders on the south Freezing temperatures mean loss of fish appetites Soon an angler will also find golden cottonwood aspen leaves choking the stream competing with his artificial for attention Grasshoppers are yet on some banks meaning a foppishly large pattern skipping over the surface might suffice Smaller basic ginger quill stone fly and others will do the job but Lut streamers and may be necessary for trout to see your offering with the afore afore- aforementioned aforementioned mentioned leaves Experiment with patterns of course but where possible check with local ex experts experts and sporting sparling goods specialty dealers Remember a tiny caddis imitation tion did in one Weber River plus 14 several years ago and on the thelast thelast last day of the November season to hoot boot I It just proves there are always exceptions exceptions to any rule in fishing It seems even more true on the pressured heavily waters Where streams are high with recent rains or not dropped to fly fishing size try spinners the larger stuff If low get out that fly rod |