Making the most of October Backcountry Fishing | Chris Dore
So our southern rivers are still running full just a few days out from opening and off season wanders have found good numbers holding in most. With more rain in the forecast in the lead up to our big day you may need to revisit your approach to your traditional opening day tactics.
Smaller streams and rivers with smaller catchments will remain or return to fishable levels far quicker than the main stem rivers. Getting higher above inflowing tributaries will also reduce the amount of flow you will be dealing with.
In such fuller flow conditions, and especially if the stream is sporting colour the perception of many is that it will be a blind fishing day. Approaching a piece of water with this mindset however will cost a number of opportunities. You are much less likely to spook a fish with your line drop of you know where they are and can keen the line away from them. When blind casting you never really know how many you may have lined, or hit on the head with your flies.
If the waters a bit coloured, or visibility limited simply stop and watch. Spend 5 minutes or more if its a great looking lie. You’ll be amazed what may move, lift, or swing, alerting you to their presence, even in discoloured flows. Now you know where they are, the odds are more in your favour. If time has passed and you have not seen any sign of fish, begin working the water, starting short and gradually working out towards the hotspot.
Heres a quick 5 to help get you onto more fish this opening!
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A coloured bead will make your favourite nymph stand out in low light, or higher, coloured flows. Try orange, red, pink or maybe blue and make sure you are heavy enough to get down in the fuller flows. Don’t be afraid to employ split shot.
Likewise I find a touch of red in the construction of my nymphs pay dividends early season, and on the peatier bushland streams. Whether mixed into your dubbing, or added as a hotspot, it certainly makes a difference.
RTB Nosebleed
Its not all nymphing either. Even in fuller flows, mid afternoon hatches often occur. In October, look at a wider size range in your dries than later in the season, with 10-16 being my standard mayfly sizing. Consider parachutes and film flies such as emergers and floating nymphs, but don’t discount brown beetle either! With warmer soil temps over the recent winter months we have noticed a few beetle showing up at home!
Parachute Adams Hi Vis
Focus on the edges and the heads of the pools, for this is where fish will hold in fuller flows. Drop offs are especially productive in the mornings before fish move up into the riffles as insect activity increases.
Hot Spot Czech Nymph – Caddis Olive
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And don’t neglect backwaters in October - in fact, search them out! It doesn’t take much water to satisfy a cruising brown, and backwaters are veritable food factories! Think chironomods, snails, corixa, mayfly and caddis, and fish them unweighted! Trout will cruise regular beats so sit, watch and learn and then lay your fly out ahead in Ambush.
Get out and explore new water and reacquaint yourself with old haunts this October. Chances are most will be holding good numbers and its a great way to develop plan B’s, as well as maybe finding a few new plan A’s
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chris Dore is a battle-tested fly fishing guide with over 20 years of professional guiding experience, battling the demanding, ever-changing conditions that our New Zealand rivers throw at us.
In 2006 Chris became one of the first New Zealanders to successfully pass the internationally recognised Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructors examination and has since taught many thousands of anglers to up their skillset.
For more in person and on river fly fishing advice and upskilling why not book Chris for a day or three?