Bass Fly Fishing in October
Fly fishing in October for smallmouth fishing can be great. It is a transitional month for smallmouth fishing. In the first half of the month the bass are spread throughout the river and can be caught on nymphs, streamers, and surface bugs. In the first two weeks I often get good fishing with the Shenandoah Blue Popper and Shenandoah Chartreuse Chugger. Fish these along the heavily shaded banks where the water is 3 to 5 feet deep over cobblestone stream bottoms. Then after that the surface action depends on how quickly the water gets cold. The best way to find out is to just try and see.
In the whole month of October you can do well with streamers and nymphs. The Murray’s Black Heavy Hellgrammite size 6, Murray’s Magnum HogSucker size 4, Madtom Sculpin Black size 6, and Olive Marauder size 6 all work well.
As the river gets colder in the middle of October, some of the bass move to deeper water. I’m not referring to the extremely deep pools but the 4 to 6 foot deep pools below the riffles and between river-crossing ledges. The nymphs and streamers mentioned above work exceptional well here.
Then toward the middle of the month plan on carrying a Sinking Tip III line on an extra spool to help get the streamers and nymphs down deeply in fast water if needed. Often fly fishing in October can produce some of the largest bass of the season.
Trout Fly Fishing
In October the Delayed Harvest Streams in Virginia and the large streams in surrounding states are stocked heavily with large trout. The justification is that they will survive well in the cool water and provide good fishing until next spring.
One very effective technique is to fish a three nymph rig which matches the natural mayfly and stonefly nymphs and caddis larva in the stream. Three of the most effective flies are the Mr. Rapidan Bead Head Nymph size 12, Murray’s Black Stonefly Nymph size 12 and Murray’s Caddis Larva size 14.
This rig can be cast across stream below the riffles. After it sinks deeply, swim the nymph across the stream bottom by stripping the flies 4 inches every 6 seconds. This tactic is best in water from 3 to 5 feet deep.
Then in deeper water I use the same 3-fly rig with a swing nymphing technique. For more information Listen to my podcast for directions on the swing nymphing technique. Many students in our classes have mastered this technique and then landed many nice fish while on their own.
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