September 2007 President's Message: “Favorite Time of Year”

By: Todd Fleming
Alamo Fly Fishers – President 2007

Todd Fleming with Big SpecksIt is no surprise to most of my friends that we are coming up on my favorite time of year to go fishing! Fall is always the best time of year to go fishing anyway, but I think this year will be even better because of the abnormal weather events that have occurred this year. It has already been a strange year, weather-wise for Texas. Now I’m hoping the weather pattern will settle down, and get back to normal. Fishing is always affected by weather, and contrary to what we would like to believe, we are unable to control the weather. So just prepare yourself for the weather, and go fishing because the fish are still there and they will still need to eat. The weather may affect where you will find fish, but keep looking, they are there. Regardless of what the weather will do in this last quarter of the year, go fishing! Fall is traditionally fantastic for fishing, and I believe the abnormal weather we have had this year will result in even better fishing!

September, October, and many times November are the best months of the year to go fishing. Labor Day signifies the end of summer - and the start of a whole new fishing season. I say, “Let the games begin!” Gradually, the water temperature will start to cool, and that will send the fish into feeding mode again. Ironically, just as the fishing traditionally starts to heat up, most of the fishermen are exhausted from chasing fish all summer, and now they turn their interest to hunting. Fewer fishermen means less competition and less fishing pressure – and as Martha Stewart would say, “That’s a good thing!”

Are you tired of sweating through the heat of summer? Well, this year we seem to have avoided our usual dose of blistering heat, but I always look forward to the coming change in air temperature. Fall provides some of the most comfortable weather conditions we have in Texas. In addition to cooler temperatures, winds are usually light to calm. And for fly fishing, that’s also a good thing.

As you may already know, I like to go fishing. And I will fish in all conditions, hot or cold, day or night, fresh water or salt, for big fish or small – it doesn’t matter. But, it’s no secret that fall is my favorite fishing time of year. This is when you will find fish aggressively looking for something to eat. They will eat anything and everything. If it doesn’t eat them first, they are going to try to kill it and eat it. It is at this time that you can easily see their predator nature in action. They hunt for food in large packs, and terrorize anything that moves.

It has only taken me forty-eight years, but I have learned to keep things simple. I’ve learned it is most productive to fish where the fish are, and to feed them (a hook) when they are hungry. I’ve also figured out that fall provides an instinctive fish feeding frenzy that makes catching fish almost easy. There are also fewer fishermen on the water, only light winds to battle, and the most comfortable temperatures of the year to be outdoors. That’s when I want to go fishing!

This year, Mother Nature has given us some abnormal weather for our area. In the beginning of 2007, we were still in an extended drought that covered the past couple of years. All of the rivers and lakes were at record lows. Then the rains came, and in only six months has already produced our wettest year on record. We have had continuous flooding conditions at a time when we are usually praying for rain. In terms of fishing, a lot of water was just not fishable. Most of the time, it was too dangerous to even be on the rivers in Texas. All that fresh water then drained to the coast, and flooded our bays and estuaries. It significantly altered the salinity levels of many coastal areas. Fish that are sensitive to those water conditions were forced to move to more comfortable conditions. I know it is only temporary, and after some strong tidal exchanges, the salinity levels will return to normal – and the fish will return as well.

I noted above why the fall traditionally produces some of the best fishing. And this year I think it may even be even better than most! My theory is that because of the huge continuous rains we have had during the past six months, fewer fish have been caught this year compared to most. The good news is the fish didn’t die. They were just more scattered, and harder to find. Because of the abnormal weather conditions, the fish were not holding in their normal patterns, and fishermen complained about not being able to find the fish. In my mind, that translates to the fish populations being higher than normal now, more big fish than normal, and now fewer fishermen on the water chasing those fish. To me, this sounds like the perfect ingredients for a successful fishing trip!

Now that you know why this is my favorite time of the year, get out there and go fishing! Consider volunteering to lead a small outing. We need you to and share your knowledge of fishing with others who are new to fly fishing. This is the best time of year to go fishing, and the easiest time to lead a successful outing. Enjoy!