Western Stillwater Streamer Tips (Fall)

With Fall weather already here and colder days on the way, there's a good chance you have already moved on from lake season. Makes sense. Here in CO, the big trout that have been hiding all summer long are finally starting to be seen more in rivers like the Colorado, the Gunnison, and the North Platte. While we certainly suggest visiting these rivers as often as you can, there's still some fantastic action to be had in the Centennial State's plethora of stillwater fisheries. And while this article was inspired by fishing in Colorado, the strategies can still apply to the majority of western stillwater fisheries.

In both the South Park and North Park regions, the lake-dwellers are fattening up for winter. The same intelligence these fish apply to choosing their meals is also applied to their survival instincts. Just like the bears up in the hills, they know a long winter is right around the corner. Which means the next few weeks will be their last chance to pack on as many calories as possible to make it through until Spring.

How can fly fishermen take advantage of this erratic behavior? By offering up the meals they're looking for! So before we ramble on too long, here are a few tips for stillwater streamer fishing this Fall:

DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE WIND

The W almost behaves like it's angry this time of year. When fishing lakes this Fall, there's usually not a question about IF the wind will be blowing... it's more a question of how hard it'll blow on any given day. But don't sweat it - the chop on the surface will actually give the trout below a false sense of security, leading them to make bad decisions they otherwise wouldn’t.

Just so you know: NEVER say the word ‘wind’ while out on the lakes. You can, it’s just bad luck. It’s sorta like saying ‘Beetlejuice’ three times. Except it usually only takes saying the wind’s name once to bring out its wrath. Not that I’m superstitious, or anything…

LOOK FOR THE WEEDS

When mid-Fall rolls around, some of the vegetation has already begun to die off in the lakes. The billowing crops of weeds that took over the lakes during the summer months are slowing withering as the weather continues to cool. That said, there's still plenty of greenery be found. Baitfish and crayfish like to lay low in this cover to try to avoid predators. Many big trout will hang out around these weed beds, waiting to ambush any meaty meal that makes a moronic move.

Whether you’re fishing from the shore or a boat, stripping streamers quickly over the top of weed beds will usually entice a follow, at the very least. Not sure if the trout become territorial of their overgrown domain or what, but even relatively smaller fish will run down a large streamer if it rolls onto their turf.

Any of the D&D variations (the Original, the Mini, and the Deceiver) are perfect for robbing the weeds. Their buoyancy will keep them from snagging and their erratic action will ensure the pattern is seen by every fish in the vicinity.

KEEP MOVING

If you aren't getting follows on a particular streamer at any given spot, switch things up. Change up your patterns early and often until you find the size and color they like. Here’s the sequence that usually works for me when exploring a new piece of water:

  • #1 Large Streamer - White or Brightly-Colored

  • #2 Medium Streamer - Dark or Natural

  • #3 Small Streamer - White or Brightly-Colored

  • #4 Large Streamer - Dark or Natural

  • #5 Repeat

Don't stand in one spot all day - stay on the move until you find where the hungry fish are hanging out. Fan cast in every direction, but if you aren’t getting eats or seeing follows after 5-10 total casts, move down the shore 20 yards. Then start the process over again until you find them. If you are seeing fish, stop to cast at them. Just don’t spend an entire day targeting one trout.

Clutch Patterns

They might not work for everyone, but these are the streamers that have been effective for the No Kype team at the lakes in Colorado:

  • Sloppy Seconds - Purple

  • Sex Dungeon - Cream, Black, or Craw Orange

  • Cheech Leech - Tan or Halloween

  • Heisenberg - White

  • Drunk & Disorderly - White

  • D&D Deceiver - White/Pink

  • Mini D&D - White or Olive/Gold

  • Circus Peanut - White or Black/Blood

  • Flugenzombie - Dirty Baitfish

Fly FishLarkin WilsonTactics2 Comments