In the fall, the tourist activity slows down considerably including the onlookers, and those in water crafts as well as the tubers. This presents an opportunity to fish from popular sight seeing pullovers along the road or in otherwise populated tourist destinations. Also, the football season will lure away some of the less dedicated fly fishermen, no offence intended.
This reminds me of an occasion in November, a few years ago, when I was fishing at the bottom of Deep Creek near the bridge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The air was cold with low hanging clouds and an occasional slight snow squall. However the air had cooled faster than the water which still had a temperature of about 55 degrees. I caught several trout including a 16 inch brown that was nice and fat, a real good fighter. A 16 inch brown is considered a large trout for the GSNP and during the summer it would not have been possible.
The point that I am trying to make is that October and November present an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the late season hatches of the blue winged olives. Several species of the blue winged olives will be on their second brood including the baetis as well as some of the larger species.
So why not hit some of those popular holes keeping an eye open for the BWOs hatching especially on the cloudy days. It would be an excellent time to tie on a “Perfect Fly” blue winged olive dun perhaps a size 20.
I have always had good success in late fall and early winter fishing. The cooler water makes the trout more active and the fall foliage is spectacular.