As we head toward the fall fishing season, the Dog Days of summer have felt nothing like that here on the rivers near Chattooga River Fly Shop. Mother Nature has blessed us with much cooler than normal temperatures and plenty of rain. We are now over 2 feet above our annual total average rainfall. In spite of all of the rain, the rivers are fishing very well here, and folks have been catching plenty of fish on their trips, with a variety of flies. We have had some topwater action with small dark caddis imitations near the banks and overhanging foliage. Stonefly patterns have been successful, and hanging small nymph patterns off the back of these flies has also been very successful. Worm imitations and terrestrials have been some great patterns as well.
As we look forward to the cooler temperatures of the fall season, we will start to see the emergence of the October caddis, light cahills, and blue-winged olives. For the October caddis, using Red Fox Squirrel Nymphs, Red Fox Squirrel Soft-Hackles and orange Stimulators are great imitations for all stages of the caddis life. This great hatch provides us great dry-fly action in the very early morning and again at dusk, as the caddis hatch at night. Cruising trout can be provoked into taking dry flies by twitching them after the drift in slower back waters and eddies. For the light cahills, lighter than the spring emergence, the use of Pheasant Tail Nymphs and soft-hackles are good patterns. Using a Light Cahill dry fly in the riffles can be very productive with a high-stick hopping approach. In calmer waters, a dead drift is most effective for targeting rising fish.
Small streamers and sculpin patterns will continue to work as well through the fall season. With plenty of water in the rivers from the summer rains and the cooler than normal river temperatures, the fall fishing on the rivers here looks to be excellent. We carry a full line of all the flies mentioned above, and from all of us here at Chattooga River Fly Shop, we look forward to seeing you out on the rivers.
Karl Ekberg
Chattooga River Fly Shop
Chattoogariverflyshop.com
(864) 638-2806
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