Transition time

The bass fishing has been tremendous throughout August. Lots of great top water fishing and big fish being landed. Chasing smallmouth in the summer months is a consistent and productive endeavor. The bass prefer warmer water temperatures than do trout. Most of our rivers and lakes water temperatures eclipse 70 degrees during the middle of summer. Way too warm to trout fish except in small cool mountain brooks. As we start to feel the chilly air of Autumn arriving , I will transition back to guiding trout in moving water. The days are already getting shorter and I am seeing red maple along water ways begin to turn color. I’m constantly checking water temperatures in our trout streams. Once the water drops to 65 or less, I will pursue trout once again. Really the water temperature will be dictated by “Mother Nature.” Hatches and bugs that could and most likely will have trout feeding are flying ants #14-#22. Pretty significant hatch and really gets the fish looking up for food. I have seen a couple ants swarms recently. A foam ant pattern can be fished with confidence in any Brook currently. Grasshoppers are everywhere. A green bodied hopper  between a size #12-#14 is money! Caddis activity picks up in our big rivers in September with the Rhycapholia or green rock worm caddis begins to hatch. Hopefully, though the hatch has been sparse in recent years, we see the swimming mayfly Isonychia. Fall cool down and rain get larger brown trout moving around, brook trout begin to migrate to spawning waters, and large landlocked salmon enters rivers for reproduction. We are coming into to fine time to fish in Vermont. Nice to transition back to some cooler water. Remover to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home. Have Fun, Willy