The cooler August temperatures have brought September-like water temperatures to the streams of our area and the fish like them. The Tuesday after Labor Day not only means the kids are back to school but also means its back to fishing. Although the fall salmon run in rivers such as the Grand River, may bring top of the mind awareness to most anglers, don’t overlook the trout and smallmouth fishing as well.
With the cooler late summer evenings, the water temperatures on the Rouge have fallen to levels the trout enjoy, and the feed bag is on for these fish as they continue to add nourishment for the winter ahead. Dry fly oriented anglers should look towards the months hatches of the White Fly (Ephron) as well as continued emergences of Caddis. Another trout favorite this time of the year are Ants. Both Black and Cinnamon colored patterns size 14 to 18 will provide for fun surface feeding sport.
Subsurface anglers have the choice of streamers or nymphs, immature trout stream insects. Streamers resembling bait fish are best fished on low light days as well as first and last light. Nymph fishing produces throughout the day but mid morning to late afternoon are the prime times. Smallmouth anglers should focus on streamers in close to areas of structure and deeper flows.
That leaves the fall run of kings. The key to landing these salmon is precipitation, patience, and being on the water when they are in. We need rain to increase river flows as Lake Michigan does not have tides that increase flows at river mouths. These fish like to enter in high water and rain causes this scenario. Once these fish enter the rivers is when you need to go. Fresh fish coursing upstream are more aggressive and are more likely to strike flies or baits. That levels what to tie to the end of your line. Swinging large flashy streamers, egg sucking leaches and sculpin style flies can lead to jolting takes on fresh salmon. Nymphs and egg flies seem to produce better after the fish have been in the system for time.
September offers a great deal to the West Michigan angler. Whether you enjoy kings in the Grand, trout in the Rogue or smallmouth in both as well as the Flat and Thornapple rivers, September offers good sport. September is not only back to school, it is also back to fishing.
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