Late summer and early fall are some of our favorite times to be on the water. Warm days and cool nights create temperature swings that push trout to feed more aggressively as they gear up for fall. While fish are still looking up for their meals, this quarter’s box is designed to cover the entire water column—because feeding trout don’t all play by the same rules.
We took this selection to one of our favorite creeks and landed fish on 9 of the 10 flies in the tin. We probably would’ve gone 10 for 10 if we’d given the Woolly Bugger more time in the water.
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1. Beadhead Woolly Bugger—Olive #8
2. Elk Hair Caddis—Orange #14
3. Stimulator—Olive #12
4. Trina's Squirm—Pink #14
5. BH Epoxy Back Copper Nymph—Red #16
6. Yakoda Hot Wire CDC—#18
7. Yakoda H2 Flashback—#16
8. Spot-On Egg—Apricot Supreme #16
9. Traditional BWO—#16
10. Yakoda Flashy Foamback Emerger—Camel #20
Dry-Dropper: Your Best Bet
Dry fly fishing stays strong well into fall, and nothing beats a dry-dropper since roughly 85% of a trout’s diet is sub-surface.
Stimulator + H2 Flashback or BH Epoxy Back CopperThe Stimulator floats like a cork with some floatant applied and holds up heavier nymphs with ease. Drop one of these tungsten bugs 24–30” below (a touch longer than you might usually fish) and you’ll be in the zone. Both subsurface flies have been longtime confidence patterns for us, and they hammer fish.
Elk Hair Caddis + Yakoda Hot Wire CDC
When you need a smaller, subtler setup, the Elk Hair Caddis is a perfect surface fly to pair with the Hot Wire CDC. Fish this in calmer water or when trout are keyed in on smaller insects just under the surface film.
Nymph Rigs: Sub-Surface Confidence
When fish aren’t willing to rise, nymphing keeps rods bent.
Trina’s Squirm is the perfect anchor to get your rig deep fast.
Pair it with the Yakoda Hot Wire CDC when you want a slimmer, more natural profile.
For low water or picky fish, downsize: lead with the Hot Wire CDC and trail the Flashy Foamback Emerger.
In bigger water or deep pools, nymphing the BH Wolly Bugger trailed by Trina’s Squirm will undoubtedly trigger an aggressive response
Double Dry: For the Purists
If you’re chasing surface eats only, run a two-dry rig. Always lead with the bigger pattern.
Stimulator + Elk Hair Caddis
Or downsize with the Elk Hair Caddis + Traditional BWO for a subtler presentation.
Streamers: Big Meals, Big Browns
As temps cool further into fall, trout look for calorie-rich meals. The BH Woolly Bugger (#08 Olive) is your ticket. Fish it dead-drifted through deeper runs or give it a strip-strip-pause retrieve to trigger aggressive takes—especially from browns. Trial the Woolly Bugger with the Spot on Egg for maximum effect.
We’ve outlined a few favorite setups, but fishing is all about experimenting. Mix it up, follow the cues the water shows you, and don’t be afraid to tie on something different than what you’d normally fish. With a blend of naturals, attractors, dries, nymphs, and a proven streamer, this quarter’s box has you covered no matter where you fish.
Thanks for being part of the Quarterly Fly Club—have fun out there, and let us know how it goes.
