Avoiding the late summer fallout

August is officially here and summer is nearing an end.
Time to pack away the rod and count down the days until spring, right?
Think again.
The fall season is the time to head out to your favorite river or stream and scout out runs for the following year. A time when you don’t even have to string up your rod to have one of your most productive “fishing” days of the year.
Sure, catch rates are typically down along with the fall water levels, but if you do your homework in the offseason you’re bound to have a field day when winter steelhead runs or spring trout openers roll around.
Adept anglers take advantage of this time of year when rivers are still at their lowest, clearest flows – perfect for taking note of submerged logs, ledges, boulders or other underwater features that are more visible now than they are for much of the year.
Now, most rivers rarely see anglers in this fair-weather state of ours. So fishermen can use the quiet time to their advantage, working the banks of their favorite stretches in total anonymity, studying the flows and tendencies of its resident fish populations.
The key is to pay attention and take note of all the fine details of the river. Bring along a small notepad to help map out what you see. A good pair of waders and a wading staff will make getting from one side of the river to another a snap.
Look for anything that strikes you as different, providing habitat for Mr. Rainbow. Study everything from endless eddies and side channels of your favorite runs, to the foamy edges of the main currents you rarely consider.
Look for rising trout. If there’s a hatch coming off, but you don’t notice any fish, you might not be looking close enough. In the fall and winter, rises are so lazy they barely make a ring. So sit back, and let your eyes do the fishing. Scan for those telltale boils that will only appear today, and will surely hint to good fishing below when the water levels soar in coming months.
One good approach when trying to get a read on large or unfamiliar rivers is to break them up into a compilation of smaller, fishable sections rather than one overwhelming mass of water. I like to call this technique, “pick pocketing.”
First, search the shallow stretches for any places a trout is likely to feel safe. Some ideal holding spots include undercut banks, beneath and beside logs and below overhanging brush or tree branches. These are prime holding when rivers swell with snowmelt and leave the water stained and fast-moving, forcing trout to hug the banks in search of protection from the strong currents.
Second, look for areas that will provide fish with food. Find pockets (behind boulders or at the bottom of pools) where trout can camp out eat without expending a ton of energy. Trout are very sluggish this time of year and aren’t willing to go out of their way for food. Find a concentration of these winter whoppers holding in a food-carrying current and you’ve probably stumbled across that “secret spot” for the rest of the year.
Deep pools are obvious big-fish magnets, but also see plenty of pressure throughout the year. Look past the bottomless holes and waterfalls, and seek out other key strike zones that won’t catch your eye later in the year. Note seams where strong currents flow into slower, shallow-water riffles. Or outside bends (especially below undercut banks) where current, springs or feeder creeks provide a constant supply of food and refuge from harsh current and sun light.
Third, don’t limit yourself to reading the river below the surface. The surface is probably the most telling aspect of the river. Dancing pyramids (where slow water meets fast) can hold nice fish even if cover isn’t present. Standing waves mean there’s big boulders ahead and big fish hiding out beside them. Eddies are easy giveaways for fish.
Don’t forget the importance of boulders and other structure that break that surface given they’ll be completely submerged once the runoff begins. Large rocks provide pockets downstream and will continue to provide tail-end cavities all year long. The same goes for large logs, or concrete slabs and other man-made structure that ends up in the river.
Once you’ve got those stretches scouted, be sure to reward yourself with some time on the water, testing your new spots with your favorite late-season fly.
Find a couple holding trout now and you’ll be on the inside track for a stellar season next year.