Late fall can offer some of the season’s best stillwater fly-fishing in the Interior of B.C. In preparation for winter’s onset, big rainbow trout will cruise the shallows, feeding voraciously. In years that experience a warm autumn, lake fishing in the Kamloops area can extend into late November. Here are three tips that will help you approach this fishery effectively.
1. Concentrate on Shallow Water
As late-fall water temperatures are steadily dropping, fish will often be found in water that is less than three metres (10 feet) deep. And there is no depth that is too shallow for them – at times you will be fishing in 0.6 to 1.2 metres (two to four feet) of water. Trout cruising in very shallow water are often in search of scuds (freshwater shrimp).
2. Use Strike Indicators to Your Advantage
When fishing with a strike indicator, there is no time limit for which your fly has to spend suspended at a desired depth. Indicator fishing is especially effective in late fall when fish are feeding in depths that aren’t conducive to sinking lines. In cold water, pay close attention to any unusual behaviour of your strike indicator – the takes will often be very subtle.
3. Capitalize on Periods of Good Fishing
During late fall, you do not typically experience action that lasts all day. Rather, you will likely be rewarded with more condensed “windows” when fish will feed heavily. Of most importance is being in an area when these windows take place. And sometimes moving 30 metres (100 feet) in any direction can be the difference between finding fish and not. Also, be willing to re-locate when you see activity on the surface.
Author: Jordan Oelrich.
Photos: Jordan Oelrich, Danny Hollins
Jordan Oelrich is the owner of Interior Fly Fishing Co. When he’s not guiding, Jordan shares his knowledge for fishing as a writer and fly-tying instructor.