Fall Fishing 2011
After floodwaters
subsided following days of hard rain, anglers found fresh fall-run salmon in most of the pools. Our fall fishing and fall
colors are at their best right about now.
Many streams along Nova Scotia`s Northumberland Strait
shore have fall runs of Atlantic Salmon. These include River Philip, Wallace River, Waugh River, River John, West and East
River Pictou, Barney`s River, West & South River Antigonish, and Cape Breton`s Margaree River. Prior to the fall season,
salmon fishing in Nova Scotia was concentrated on the Margaree, often resulting in severe overcrowding. Now that we have many
other choices this problem should be alleviated, at least for this fall.
So, we can
get outdoors and enjoy the fall with all its glorious colors and fish salmon at the same time. That`s hard to beat!
Recent warm weather has kept water temperatures up, and warm water means that salmon will rise
to dry flies, especially salmon Bombers. Bombers can be dead-drifted, pulled across the surface in short spurts, or fished
wet just under the surface. Any of these presentations can trigger rises.
Small wet
flies such as the Butterfly or Undertaker can be effective in warm water when fished just under the surface, just like summer.
Cold water makes salmon less likely to take dry or wet flies on or just under the surface,
summer-style. Cold water means using sinking tips or sinking leaders and bigger flies that look alive when presented slow
and deep. Fall fish also seem to favor brightly colored flies like the orange shrimp patterns, Mickey Finn
or Pink Panther, although dark marabou lies like the Grape can be more visible and productive, particularly in high cloudy
water. Effective presentations can vary greatly as well. It seems there is just no wrong way to present a fly to a fall salmon
in cold water.
The General Practitioner (GP), in large sizes, is a wet fly that is very popular and effective
for fall fishing. The GP was originated in the UK to imitate a shrimp (called prawns in the British Isles)
by Colonel Esmond Drury in 1953. It`s a wonderful fly, but the original dressing is, in my opinion, unduly
complex. Great to fish, but a pain to tie.
Most of us
want to tie a few flies quickly and get out on the river. This version of the GP will let us do that.
The recipe shown below is simple and effective. I call it the QDGP for Quick & Dirty General
Practitioner. Good luck with it!
The QDGP
Hook:
Black salmon hook or bronzed streamer
hook like Mustad 9671, size 2 - 6
Tail: Hot
orange bucktail, as long as the hook, over a few strands of gold Krystal Flash
Body 1st half:
Hot orange UV Polar chenille
Shrimp eyes: A
golden pheasant tippet cut V-shape and coated with head cement.
Body 2nd half: Hot
orange UV Polar chenille
Wing:
Pine squirrel or grey squirrel dyed
red or hot orange
Head:
Fluorescent orange or red, with 2 coats
of Anglers Corner Glossy Wet Head Cement
Please send comments and suggestions to slim@rivermagic.ca
Please stay on the line
…