Mountain Trout

In the fall, the water level is at the year's lowest. The days get shorter, nights get colder and food gets scarcer. The creeks and streams feeding the lakes have all but dried up. There isn't much insect life flowing through the lake. The temperature layers of the lake water begin to equalize. As the surface water cools, it's easier for the trout to spend time in it.

At this time of year, there are fewer but larger fish in the lakes. They are the survivors, and they want to fatten up for the winter cold spell. They feed on grubs and nymphs, now more plentiful in the shallower stretches, and on insects, which still land on the lake's surface in the late afternoon. Grasshoppers are fewer but fatter and are still choice bait. Everything seems more tempting to the hungry fish.

Fishing in the fall is thus similar to fishing in the summer—with one big exception: With the fish bigger and hungrier, and the action near or on the surface most of the day, it's even easier! There are a couple of other bonuses as well. The weather is better and the wilderness less crowded. Now if you could only arrange vacation time then!