Fall Stillwater Fly Fishing in Kamloops

To many, the arrival of September is considered a solemn event and marks the end of summer, but to the legion of anglers it signals the start of fall trout fishing season in Kamloops.

Cool, frosty mornings are a sure sign that lake water temperatures are falling. This triggers some of the most aggressive feeding behavior of the year for both Rainbow Trout and Brook Char inhabiting our local stillwaters. 

Fall fishing will extend right up until the lakes freeze over, but the prime period is from mid-September to mid-November. As water temperatures continue to drop, trout become more active and feed in ever-increasingly shallow water. This fact alone is icing on the cake to pique the interest of both local and travelling fly fishers.

Rainbow and Brook Trout are drawn to shrimp, scuds, leeches, water boatman, backswimmers, immature dragonfly, and damselfly nymphs. The best catch will be in areas between 5 and 15 feet deep.

Important fly lines to have in your gear bag include floating, slow, intermediate, and a super-fast sinking line, such as a type 7 full sinker. There are no significant aquatic insect hatches to focus the attention of the fish so they tend to feed sporadically for short periods during the daylight hours.

Anglers need to be constantly looking for active fish that are jumping or splashing around as they will often be willing biters. Be prepared to move around a lot and focus your attention on the shallow or shoal zones of the lake as the most intensive feeding activity will occur there. Feeding periods are intermittent, so it’s best to plan for being on the water for the day as you never know when the big bite will begin.

With over 100 lakes throughout the Thompson/Nicola region that are consistent for fall fishing, any lake is a great option this time of year.