Dedicated fly fisherman have a knack for finding suitable places to cast a fly rod no matter the time of year. But if you are new to the sport, it’s natural to wonder, when is fly fishing season?
Fly fishing season peaks between the months of April and October. Though, for fly fishermen willing to brave the cold weather, it is technically a year-round sport. Additionally, with an abundance of warm weather destinations, fly fishing can be enjoyed all year long.
To be honest, fly fishing season really just depends on the species of fish you are trying to catch, and your willingness to get out on the water. So, for the rest of this article, we are going to provide you with a quick-reference guide to fly fishing in all four seasons. That way, you can feed your fly fishing obsession all year long.
Let’s begin.
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Spring Fly Fishing
Ah, Spring. The cold winter chill is starting to transform into a warm spring breeze, the flowers are blooming, and fish are hungry. So rig-up your fly rod, because you might just run into some of the best fishing of the year. You just need to know what to look for.
Tips For The Spring Fly Fishing Season
I’ll be honest, my least favorite part about spring fly fishing is the unpredictable weather. One moment, you’re fly fishing in the middle of a calm, 60-degree day, and the next, a freezing cold wind picks-up and blows in a surprise snow storm. But, if you come prepared with everything from a rain jacket to a winter coat, Spring can be a great time to hit the water. In fact, here are a few spring fly fishing tips.
1. Get Deep
If you want to catch a lot of fish in the Spring, you should rig-up your rod for nymphing. Since the water hasn’t had sufficient time to warm up after Winter, there will be fewer bugs hatching in the water. That means, the fish will be hanging out in the depths. So, use a long leader, throw on some bead heads, add a bunch of weight, and get those flies deep.
2. Look For Afternoon Hatches
I know I just said that there will be fewer hatches in spring-time, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep an eye out for them. If you happen to find yourself fishing on a warm spring day, be on the lookout for bugs coming off the water in the afternoon. The warm weather might raise the water temperature just enough to trigger a dry fly feeding frenzy. So, if you start to see fish sipping the surface, trade those nymphs for dry flies.
3. Fish Tailwaters And Lakes
As spring begins to take hold, and rid us of the cold winter weather, snow-capped mountains turn into roaring rivers. In other words, with spring, comes run-off. So, if you are itching to whip out your fly rod, you are going to need to focus on lakes, and tailwaters (i.e. rivers that flow out of a dam).
Run-off is hard to fish, and in many cases, just plain stupid. Plus, Spring is one of the best times to fish lakes and tailwaters, so there’s really no reason to fish those raging rivers.
4- Be Flexible
As I mentioned before, the hardest part of fly fishing in spring is the unpredictable weather.
For that reason, I don’t recommend planning a spring fly fishing trip — to a specific destination — more than a few days in advance. Instead, plan a fly fishing trip, but be flexible on the location. That way, if a spring snow storm decides to rear its head, you can just adjust your trip to a less snowy locale.
Summer Fly Fishing
Warm weather is like fuel on a fly fisherman’s desire to hit the water. So, Summer is high-time for fly fishing. And you should drink it in.
Want to take a half-day trip to a river that’s only an hour away? Go for it. Want to plan a week long float-trip in Montana? Just pick a river. Want to fly fish your way through a 2-week long backpacking trip through a national park? Do it.
Summer is fly fishing heaven, so live it to the fullest. In fact, I recommend taking your fly fishing gear with you everywhere you go, just in case you get the urge.
Tips For The Summer Fly Fishing Season
Like I said, Summer is peak fly fishing season. But if you are new to the sport, here are a few unique tips to help you make the most out of the warm weather.
1- Night Fish If Possible
If you have never tried fly fishing at night, now is the time. The cool air, combined with the protection of darkness, can make for some of the best fishing you have ever experienced. So, get yourself a headlamp, find a river that allows night fishing, and hit the water.
In the words of Kenny Chesney, “everything gets hotter when the sun goes down.”
Especially fly fishing.
2- Rig 2 Rods
In Summer, you can fish with nymphs, dry flies, streamers, or terrestrials. So, if you have more than one rod, try rigging up a couple different options. That way, if you are nymphing, and start to notice some surface action, you don’t have to completely re-rig. Just set your nymphing rod down, and grab your dry fly rod.
3- Pay Attention To Water Temperature
In the winter and spring, the cold water temperature can keep hatches at bay, and slow down the fishing. However, Summer comes with another problem. Warm water makes fish lethargic, and can make it difficult for fish to recover from a fight. So, if you are fishing on a hot day, be sure to keep any fish you catch in the water as much as possible.
Fall Fly Fishing
You know what happens right around the start of football season? Terrestrial season. In fact, early fall brings some of the best dry fly action altogether. In other words, if you want a fish to hit your fly on the surface, late summer and early fall should be your go-to fly fishing season.
Tips For The Fall Fly Fishing Season
If you know what you’re doing, Fall can be one of the most epic fly fishing seasons of the year. So, if you are a beginner, or just looking to up your game, here are a few Fall fly fishing tips to catch more fish when the leaves start changing.
1. Focus On Terrestrials
Have you ever walked through an open field in September? Did you notice how many grasshoppers, ants, beetles, and crickets there are everywhere? These are known as terrestrials, and fish go crazy on them in early fall. So, I highly recommend throwing one on the end of your line.
I don’t know if there is a more fun fly fishing experience than watching a fish hammer a size 6 hopper, or an Amy’s Ant. It’s something to behold.
2. Throw On a Streamer Now And Again
As summer comes to a close, Brown Trout begin to spawn. And when they do, they get more territorial. So, when they see a little minnow messing around, they are more likely to announce their presence with authority.
In other words, throw on a streamer in Fall.
3. Fish Late-Morning
As the cool fall mornings replace the warmth of summer, fish tend to feed a little later in the morning. So, don’t worry about getting out on the water too early. In my experience, on fall days, fish start to get active around 10AM.
Winter Fly Fishing
For those that are new to the sport, Winter might seem like a poor choice for fly fishing. I mean, who would honestly want to stand in the middle of a river, casting a fly rod on a day when the highest temperature is still less than freezing? Well, me, and a whole ton of other fly fishermen and women that love fishing without the mid-summer crowds.
Besides that, there are so many warm weather, saltwater fly fishing destinations that offer incredible opportunities for bonefish, permit, and a number of other hard-fighting fish. So, even if cold weather fishing in a high-mountain stream sounds miserable to you, all you really have to do is hop on a flight, and spend a week fishing on the beach.
Winter fly fishing is starting to sound pretty good. Right?
Tips For The Winter Fly Fishing Season
Now, for most people, winter is more about skiing than it is fly fishing fishing. But I can tell you from personal experience, that it is great for both. In fact, on multiple occasions, I have participated in both activities in the same day. So, in an effort to equip you for this wonderful adventure, here are a few winter fly fishing tips.
1. Warmth = Enjoyment
There’s nothing good about freezing your butt off in the middle of a river. So, if you want to enjoy winter fly fishing, bundle up in layers. You can always remove a layer or two if you get too hot in the middle of the day. But, if you don’t bring enough warm clothing, you are less likely to enjoy the experience.
Or, like I said earlier, you could just book a trip to a warm-weather fly fishing destination and avoid the cold altogether. Either way, warmth is the #1 priority when fly fishing in the winter.
2. Fish With Lighter Leader And Tippet
In Winter, fish tend to be a little more skittish. That’s why you should opt for lighter leader and tippet. And, the lower the water is, the lighter the tippet you should use.
Sure, you might break-off a few more fish, but that’s better than never catching any at all.
3. Be Patient
During winter, fish tend to pod-up in the slow-moving, deep water. So, if you find a run like that, don’t just throw a couple casts and move on. Give the fish time to get active, and practice a little extra patience. Unlike the other seasons of the year, when fish are more likely to hit your first couple casts, fish in winter might not hit your fly until the 50th cast. So, give them time, and don’t move-on too quickly.
Final Thoughts
With the right know-how, fly fishing can be a year round sport. Sure, it might be easiest to fish in the warm weather of Summer, but each season comes with its own unique fly fishing opportunities. I just hope the tips in this article will help you make the most out of every one.
What’s your favorite fly fishing season? Be sure to comment below. We love hearing from our readers!
It’s interesting to know that night fishing can help increase my odds in catching fish. I’d like to know more about fly fishing because I’d like to go somewhere with my boyfriend away from the city for our next date. I think that fishing will be a nice activity to learn together.