As temperatures drop and winter looms, trout retreat to deeper pools and indulge in a feeding frenzy in preparation for the cold months ahead. This means more trout, a nd bigger trout, are up for grabs. If you’re a fly fishing enthusiast, there’s no better time to be on the water than the fall season.
During fall, trout’s diet consists of a wide variety, from dry flies hatching to nymphs and streamers. So, whether you’re a fan of nymphing or prefer dry fly fishing, fall presents an opportunity to catch some fantastic fish using your favorite techniques. However, to boost your chances of success, it’s essential to have the best trout flies for fall in your fly box. So, let’s dive into the top trout flies for fall fly fishing.
Best Fall Trout Flies
Zebra Midge
The Zebra Midge is a must-have for your fall fly box, and it’s a pattern that remains relevant even during winter. It’s an excellent imitation of a midge pupa, which forms nearly 50% of most trout’s diet during the cold spells. Midges hatch all year round in most rivers, making the Zebra Midge an irresistible meal for trout.
Experienced fly fishers often use this fly as a nymph on a double rig throughout late fall and into winter. Once you adopt this technique, you’ll likely see your catch rate increase almost instantly. Be sure to stock up on Zebra Midges in sizes 18-22, with red and darker colors being the most effective. Also, consider different heads, such as brass beads and tungsten heads, for additional weight.
Hare’s Ear
Hare’s Ear nymphs are classic fly fishing staples and are effective in spring, summer, and fall. During the fall season, they work wonders because they imitate almost every insect that hatches, including isonychia mayflies, October caddis, black stonefly, and stonefly larvae.
It’s beneficial to have a diverse assortment of these flies in different sizes and weights. Pack your box with Hare’s Ear nymphs in sizes 12 to 20, and with various heads, ranging from none to tungsten. For fall fishing, stick to the smaller sizes of 16-20.
You can fish the weighted versions of this fly as nymphs and try fishing the unweighted versions under a dry fly to imitate emerging insects.
Pheasant Tail Nymphs
Pheasant Tail Nymphs are incredibly effective, much like Hare’s Ears, they can mimic just about anything that’s hatching, making them ideal for fall fishing. You should fish these flies on all trout streams and any river during the fall. Try using the smallest sizes possible (16-22) as they can be mistaken by trout for anything from a caddis to a mayfly and a midge.
It’s best to stick to natural and brown colors and consider heavily weighted versions of these patterns as the trout, especially the bigger ones, will be lurking deep.
Sow Bug
Despite its year-round importance, the Sow Bug is a pattern that many anglers often overlook. Sowbugs are always present in the river, but trout don’t rely on them in summer. They gorge on larger insects then and save the sow bug for fall through to early spring. If your favorite flies aren’t working, try using a Sow Bug, and you might see your catch rate double or even triple.
The patterns that best represent these bugs are a Ray Charles and a Hot Head Sowbugs. Get them in every size from 12-18 and in a variety of colors, including greys, pinks, oranges, olives, blues, and whites. You should fish these like you would nymphs, so consider getting them in different weights too for the fall.
Egg Pattern
Fall is spawning season for all trout, from rainbow to brown trout and even brook trout. Spawning trout lay fish eggs in the bottom of the river, and any loose eggs that get washed downstream are quickly gobbled up by rainbow and brown trout.
So, some of the best flies for trout fishing during the fall are egg patterns as they can subdue both big and small trout. They are such an easy meal, and no fish will let them pass when preparing for winter. Get a few egg patterns in sizes 12 -16 and in various colors like orange, red, pink, and chartreuse. These are best fished as the point fly on a double nymph rig as the heavier nymph will help the egg sink, and it acts as an attractor fly for your more natural-looking nymph too.
San Juan or Squirmy Worms
The San Juan Worm fly or Squirmy Worm fly fishing flies can be used for trout fishing all year round. They mimic aquatic worms, an easy meal for trout that’s high in protein and helps them gain weight for the winter.
You’ll want your San Juan or Squirmy Worms in sizes 8-16, in a few colors, including red, pink, and purple, and in various weights so you can fish them deep in the fall. The best time to fish this fly is when the water has risen or is off-color as this usually results in many worms being washed into the system.
Woolly Bugger
One of the exciting a