Tactics to try for September
Here are some tactics to try for September.... Things to think about...
As the temperature drops and the river has an autumnal feel to it my mindset changes...
Salmon are less willing to travel a long way for the fly so we are thinking much more about the depth of our fly and trying to present it closer to the fish.
There are less fresh fish coming into the system so our usual cascade's and park shrimps may have been seen before in plentiful...
There are no hard fast rules in salmon fishing but here are three things to try....
- Dull dark small flies on a medium sink tips and long leaders - when fishing for residents, dull down your fly choice, they have seen lots before. Depending on the depth and speed of the pool, a slow or fast polyleader with a long leader and keep things subtle... This may winkle out one of those picky residents... https://twinpeakesflyfishing.com/collections/dressed-salmon-flies
- Get the fly down properly!! As the temperature drops, swap your scandi line or spey line for a multi tip option or a skagit... When we talk about getting down we want to see a 15' tip of sink 3, 5 or 7... If you are not occasionally nipping the bottom, see what the pool can take, try a heavier tip, you can always put a lighter fly on and retrieve it to bring it up. We like swinging a sunray or collie dog through the larger pools, strip it when you need to... https://twinpeakesflyfishing.com/collections/double-handed-lines-1/products/airflo-skagit-f-i-s-t?variant=39543065837726
- Francis time, yes the Autumn is famous for the red francis, and for good reason... They don't always switch onto it straight away, but when we get the first frost we are looking for an aggressive response from the salmon and the francis will usually do this perfectly. Think about casting square and adding in a couple of large mends to let it get down, as the line straightens up usually around 45 degrees you will get a lifting of the fly 'induced take' in the trout world... This can be a very effective autumn tactic. https://twinpeakesflyfishing.com/collections/frances-collection