It’s October and the temperatures begin to cool down in Southern Alberta, so don’t forget to layer up with a good fleece to keep you warm in the mornings or evenings, and dry in the afternoon! The levels and flow follow suit, dropping lower, so expect fish to be moving into deeper, faster water. It is still a great time to get out and fish as there are some warmer days on the horizon but watch out for those strong winds! Along with the cooling temperatures, the water boatmen hatch seems to be doing better!

Dry fly fishing is still good so keep an eye out and take some time to see what they are eating on the surface of the water. It will likely be a small spent fly. Nymphing seems to be the most effective technique right now and getting deep with some split shot or weighted flies is key! If you are choosing to huck some meat, smaller streamers are working great! Fish are smashing them on long pauses or at the end of a long swing when you are stripping in line.

As an aid on where to start the day here is what we would suggest as a starting point. As far as size goes, the main thing will be matching the size of what you are currently seeing. Current Hatches:

• October Caddis #14-16
• Caddis #14-18
• BWO's #16-18
• Water Boatmen #12-16

Keep in mind when heading out there in the next couple weeks that the brown trout are preparing to spawn, so watch out for browns pairing up and reds and try to avoid them.