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Fall Fly Fishing the Chattahoochee

Wed, 09/15/2010 - 11:20 -- jmaslar

September Caddis ? Most serious fly fishermen know that mid Fall is the time for the October caddis to emerge but this September we are seeing consistent but sparse emergences of #16 tan sedges with respective free living caddis larvae(Hydropsychidae) that were found by researchers in the 2010 summer seine samples.

In October,on the Chattahoochee River we anticipate a #14 tan sedge to emerge in higher concentrations according to our seine findings back in August which revealed high numbers of larger free living caddis larvae. Mayflies, represented by Baetis and Pseudocloeon (#16 down to #28 Blue Winged Olives) are the predominant fall midday insects which trigger consistent dry fly on overcast afternoons and most evenings. We are finally experiencing the breath taking strikes on terrestrial patterns that imitate grasshoppers, ants and beetles. Fishing large attractor flies like Chernobyl Ants and Club Sandwiches with a beaded dropper nymph will score in most shoal areas and undercut banks.

Throughout this past summer our catch ratio on the "Hooch" with Rainbow and Brown trout have been around 9 to 1 but this has been changing as days get shorter and DNR backs off stocking runs of Rainbows. This dramatic change in our Brown trout catch rates has mostly to do with the Fall spawning season which triggers their fierce territorial behavior around spawning habitat like gravel bars and cobblestone. If you want to experience some of the best streamer fishing for trophy brown trout please join us this fall for a float trip from October through December.

Water temperatures at Buford dam continue to be a rather frigid at 49F and high Disolved Oxygen levels from sluice releases are ideal for water quality for 50miles downstream following to this previous record cold winter of 2009. To say the least fly fishing prospects for this autumn on the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area are awesome!
 

This report has been filed by our friend and guide, Chris Scalley from the River Through Atlanta Guide Service.

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