|
October fishing report
|
|
Well, it’s the first week of October and most anglers are making the transition from small-stream trout and smallmouth bass to muskies and migratory trout. Seeing leaves starting to change colors and those first houses topped in frost is a strong reminder that it’s time to stash the 4 weights and prep the bigger gear!
Tributary Report:
JOIN US OCTOBER 5th FOR NATE’S PROGRAM-BADGER STATE STEELHEAD Musky Report:
Contatct the shop for a day of Muskie fishing with Tight Lines! |
The first salmon started to sneak into the rivers a little over two weeks ago. Water temps are great for salmon and trout, but we definitely need some rain to fall! Stick to the larger rivers for now as they’ll have enough water to handle these larger trout and salmon. A lot of the smaller tributaries I drove over yesterday (in Michigan and Wisconsin) were so low that they were borderline impassable to migratory fish. The larger tailwaters (rivers with dams) will maintain enough flow to facilitate fish, even when it’s been dry. Look for ANY rain over the next month to bring in a push of fresh fish. Swinging flies is always a terrific approach in the fall as you can cover a lot of water. The browns and salmon will be aggressive, particularly the males, as they are a fall-spawning fish. Look for steelhead and browns to occupy the areas below the spawning salmon as well, as they’ll take advantage of the protein provided by the freshly dropped eggs. Fall is the best time of the year for swinging and stripping streamers… Cover water and look for those aggressive players!
These colder nights and cooler days have got the big predators on the prowl. The river temps have dropped 8-10 degrees in the past two weeks and this has these apex predators thinking about eating. From the bay to the larger rivers of northeastern Wisconsin, fall is the time to target muskies. A lot like smallmouth, muskies will go nearly dormant in the winter months. As the water temps start to drop in the fall, these fish sense this change and will start to feed as much as possible, packing on fat for the long winter. What better time to go throw big flies and take advantage of this phenomenon than right now! Nate has been out and hasn’t had a day yet where multiple fish haven’t been seen and at least one fish in the boat. Muskies utilize ambush spots in rivers and will strike quickly and ferociously if a fly is pulled in front of them. Call the shop soon to get in on one of these trips before it’s too late! In another month and-a-half, we’ll be staring out the window at snow and ice, wishing we could be out on open water. If you’re into beautiful rivers, crisp fall air and big fish, join Tight Lines this fall for an adventure you won’t soon forget!