By Karl Ekberg
We are enjoying the great fall weather here on the rivers around Chattooga River Fly Shop. With cooler temperatures and the rivers at very good levels from good rainfall, the fall trout fishing is great! Delayed Harvest season starts here on the South Carolina rivers on November 1 and continues through May 14. This is a great time to get out on the rivers to stretch your line with some fish and enjoy the fall colors in the mountains. The trout have moved out of the depths of the rivers seeking thermal refuge from the summertime temperatures with the river temperatures averaging in the mid to high 50’s now.
Along with the falling water temperatures, the emergence of the fall hatches bless us again. Swinging nymphs and soft-hackles on a dead-drift is essential to a great day on the rivers. An upstream cast, a mend or two of your line, and letting these fine bugs drift freely with no drag all the way downstream will produce fish. We have noticed with the cooler than normal early fall temperatures that some of the fall hatches are appearing on the rivers a little earlier than most years.
Streamer fishing will be great this fall season as well. There are a tremendous amount of shiners, minnows and sculpins throughout the watersheds. Targeting fish in the seam lines just off the big runs of the rivers will be beneficial. Cast the streamers upstream, “dead-drift and twitch” through the drift, and then a strip and pause retrieve will be rewarding. For a full line of bugs and streamers stop by and see us and check out the new arrivals to fulfill your fall fly fishing.
As the Delayed Harvest season arrives, now is a great time to see the Walhalla Fish Hatchery in full swing. If you have never been to the hatchery, you will be able to see the thousands of fish in many sizes getting ready for their journey to the rivers. From fingerlings to show fish, one will be amazed at the variety of sizes of the brook, brown and rainbow trout which the great folks at the hatchery have raised for us to enjoy out on the rivers. Bring along a couple of quarters when you visit to enjoy feeding the large show fish which the hatchery has on display. After visiting the hatchery, try your hand at fishing the East Fork, a great small water fishery here in South Carolina.
As we travel from one water system to another, let’s remember to give our equipment a good cleaning to avoid any transfer of invasive species. Also, as we are enjoying the scenery and rivers we are fishing on, please “Leave No Trace”. That’s just a couple of ways to help take care of the things we love. We hope to see everyone out on the rivers!