Autumn is here and it appears that things have finally started to cool down.  Great news for trout anglers, and believe it or not, bass anglers.  While bass do like warmer water, several state record bass have been caught in October and November!  This time of year, large bass aggressively feed preparing for the very cold water of winter.

Bass are more territorial than trout, often living in the same part of the lake year-round, just moving offshore to deeper water for the winter and moving back into shore when the water warms up in the spring and summer.  They are ambush hunters preferring cover to help them stalk their prey.

Bass are primarily piscivorous, feeding on fish instead of invertebrates, but like any predator are opportunistic and will take any food that comes their way.

In the fall, they will often hang on weed bed edges, along with trout, feeding on leeches that are coming out of the dying weed beds. Other smaller fish that feed on the aquatic invertebrates that are losing their homes in the weed beds also fall victim to bass.

Earlier this week, while electro-surveying Wildhorse Reservoir, lots of young perch were contacted in the backs of weedy coves.  Smallmouth bass were also in these coves chasing the perch.  Hint, hint. 

Early fall finds crayfish shedding their exoskeletons, which have become too small, and looking for muddy bottoms to burrow in as they prepare to hibernate for the winter.  Bass will prowl these muddy flats targeting the soft bodied crayfish found there this time of year.

Trout will often follow the same contour around a lake until they a find target rich area where aquatic insects are active.  This time of year, chironomids (midge larva) are active and in our high desert reservoirs make up almost 80% of a rainbow trout’s diet.

Chironomids like muddy bottoms to burrow in to develop.  As they outgrow a burrow, they will collect oxygen in their body, using it to produce a bubble to help lift them out of their burrow.  Once out they float with the current. Depending upon what stage of their life cycle they are in, they either settle back to the bottom to dig a bigger burrow or use the bubble to float to the surface and hatch as an adult.

The oxygen the chironomids collect oxygenates their blood, turning it red, hence the name “blood worms,” which is why many chironomid patterns have a white bead at the top (the bubble) and a red thread body with black ribbing.

Obviously, muddy flats in three to 10 feet of water are great places to target trout this time of year.   Especially as the water cools down into the magic range discussed last week, between 56 and 64 degrees.

ANGEL LAKE

Fishing has been fair to good all summer.  Fair for bait anglers and good for fly rodders.  It is picking up as the trout prepare for the long cold winter under the ice.  The usual worms under a bobber or fished off the bottom with a slip sinker should work as should small spinners and rooster tails. Give the spinners and rooster tails a few seconds to sink before starting to reel them in.  If using a bobber, put your bait about 18-inches to two feet below the bobber. For fly rigging a dry and a dropper is working very well.  Good flies for the dry are hoppers, yellow stimulators and humpies.  Yellow or red seem to be the colors that work best for dries and olive or peacock for the droppers.  When the lighter patterns aren’t working, switch to black gnats, black or olive Adams and elk hair caddis, or Griffith’s gnats. Wet flies to try, include flashback PT nymphs, small black or olive wooly or crystal buggers, olive or peacock soft hackles, red/silver zebra midges, hares ears and small leech patterns.  Angel Lake was stocked with approximately 2,100 rainbow trout the first week of September. 

Fishing at Cave Lake has been fair for eight to 10-inch trout, but the water level is low from a drawdown due to concerns with the dam.  The shorelines are muddy and very soft making walking and fishing difficult. The usual small nymphs and crystal buggers are working for trout, with beadhead pheasant tail nymphs being very effective.  For bait anglers, fishing a worm about four feet below a bobber or using powerbait floated off the bottom with a slip sinker seems to be the best bets. The float tube launching area is closed and anglers should fish at the north end of the lake near the dam and main boat launch area. 

COLD CREEK RESERVOIR

COMINS LAKE

ILLIPAH

Water surface temperatures are dropping into the low 60’s and trout fishing is good.  The usual flies like wooly buggers, prince nymphs, hares ears and chironomid patterns should all work.  Small spinners, PowerBait and worms should be effective as well. The brown trout in the lake will start heading into the stream for the fall spawn over the next few weeks, so anglers may want to target the south end of the lake where the stream enters the lake. 

JAKE'S / BOIES RESERVOIR

JIGGS / ZUNINO RESERVOIR

MOUNTAIN STREAMS

HIGH ALPINE LAKES

Access to the alpine lakes in the Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt’s is good.  The fish in these high mountain lakes are very cooperative and the further you get from the trailhead the better the fishing. With shorter days the fish are putting on the feedbag anticipating the long winter ahead. Bait anglers will find that, as a general rule, worms and hoppers seem to work better than PowerBait. Small spinners in dark colors with light contrasting highlights, as well as small panther Martins and rooster tails also are effective.  For flyrodders small yellow or red dry flies such as stimulators, hoppers, elk hair caddis and humpies with a soft hackle or other nymph dropper is the way to go.  In low light conditions darker colored flies such as black gnats, ants, beetles and Griffith’s gnats should be used.  Be prepared for nights below freezing if camping at these elevations.

RUBY LAKE NWR

SOUTH FORK RESERVOIR

Fishing for trout has been fair, while bass fishing has been fair to good.  Surface water temperatures are in the low to mid 60’s depending upon location and time of day. Algae is still fairly thick, but should start receding soon.  Aquatic plants should start receding as we move into October.  Fly fishermen fishing chironomids (midge larvae) or small nymphs in black or red under an indicator are finding success.  Fishing snow cones and midge larva a foot off the bottom in four to 10 feet of water is working well.  Trout being are moving into the coves as the water cools and fishing from shore has definitely improved.  Bass fishing has been good for both smallmouth and largemouth using soft plastic baits in dark colors near structure. Fishing below the dam in the river has been slow. The state park campground is open at 50% of capacit

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR

The water level is average for this time of year and cooling into the low 60’s.  Fishing is fair to good for 12 to 15-inch trout and for bass.  Just like other reservoirs, the trout are starting to move up a bit in the water column and into shallower water.  Black leeches have been working for both trout and bass along the weed beds.  Chironomid patterns are also working for trout.  For the most part, the same presentations that are used at South Fork, should work here.

WILSON RESERVOIR

The water level is average for this time of year, but weeds and algae are still present.  Fishing is fair for 12 to 15-inch trout and fair to good for bass.  Just like other reservoirs, the trout are starting to move up a bit in the water column, but still holding around 10 feet.  Fishing in the canyon by the dam has been fair to good for trout.  Black leeches have been working for trout, but also have been very good for bass.  For the most part, the same presentations that are used at South Fork, should work here.