The 12 Seasons of Fly Fishing
Learn to recognize the changes of the seasons and become a better angler →
I passed the first grade too — I know that there are only four seasons! But, When it comes to fly fishing, there are really 12 seasons.
I’ll explain!
Let’s start with a little math. Imagine every season’s split up into three parts, for example: early spring, spring, and late spring. Or, early winter, winter, and late winter. 4 (seasons) X 3 (distinctive parts of each season) = 12 (seasons of fly fishing). Assuming you passed the fifth grade as well, I’m assuming that equation makes sense to you!
Now, why do the twelve seasons matter to an angler? Answer: they all fish differently!
Yes, some seasons fish similarly — like late winter and early spring. Others, however, fish VERY differently, like early summer and summer. I’ll get more into these examples later, but, the more you know about each of the twelve seasons, (how variable they are, and how they fish), and the more you can recognize the changing of the seasons, the more successful you’ll be at any given time of year. As an angler, knowing your seasons is extremely valuable information to have in you back pocket!
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One Month Can Make a HUGE Difference
In your presentation, location…you name it
I LOVE fishing in Colorado during early spring (late-March through early-April). However, once late spring rolls around (late-April through late-May) I enjoy the fishing a bit less. Why?
In early spring the water is still gin-clear. The river hasn’t discolored yet because, at this point in time, the rain and snow melt haven’t come in full force. Hot and cold waters haven’t begun to mix, mud remains out of the water, and stream flows maintain a regular CFS. It’s an amazingly fun time to fish. At this time of year, I typically use blue winged olives and midges because that’s what I was fishing two months prior, in late winter (a very similar season to early spring).
Then May rolls around. The temperatures start to rise, vegetation begins to green and grow, runoff starts to happen, spring rains fall, and the water discolors. Caddis begin to come out. Now you’re fishing tiny, size #22 midges and blue winged olives, when just over a month ago in late-March, you were fishing distinctly bigger flies. Your presentation has entirely changed in just a month — alongside, possibly, the location you’re choosing to fish.
Just to solidify my point, here’s another example: early summer vs. late summer. In Colorado early summer (early June) is usually rot with runoff and high, fast-moving waters. It’s a supremely difficult and somewhat frustrating time to fish, for most anglers.
On the other hand, late summer (mid-August through September) is a wonderful time to fly fish in Colorado. The water’s low, the days are HOT, the water is crystal clear once again. There isn’t a lot of rain typically. Attractor patterns start to work well — particularly red attractor patterns, as a majority of the time, deoxygenated water due to high temperatures causes insects to turn a bright shade of red. I love fishing in late summer, as do most anglers.
Now, let’s discuss WHY all of this matters, and how you can identify changes in seasons, in a bit more depth…
Learn to Read the Signs of Changing Seasons
And become a fish catching machine
When it comes to presentation, trout behavior, best locations to fish, etc., all 12 seasons vary.
That’s why it’s so important that you know how to distinguish when, exactly, the seasons change.
To start, learn the signs that nature provides. These minor differences (changes in temperature, precipitation…) are going to make a huge difference in your fly selection, and as I mentioned before, presentation and location. The clever angler (the angler that’s catching all the trout) is really going to consider these differences, and in turn, take the time to consider where/how they’re going to fish successfully.
Let’s use Oregon’s world-renowned Deschutes River as an example. It’s early June, and you’re deciding whether you should fish the lower or the upper Deschutes during some pretty gnarly runoff. You’re thinking about the structure of the river itself, and you recognize that many more tributaries join the lower section than the upper section. The upper section, on the other hand, has a lot less runoff because the runoff’s already happened at this time of year (early summer). If you fish the upper, or any tailwater section, you have a better chance of finding clear, properly regulated water that’s going to be conducive with fly fishing.
June turns into July, and the runoff slows. You’ve fished the upper Deschutes plenty, and you’re itching to give the lower a shot. Lucky for you, the water levels have dropped and the water’s started to clear. By late summer (August/September) you recognize that nearly the entire Deschutes is a good, stable, extremely fun fishery. So, you decide to go fish the lower Deschutes in the hopes of catching some big, hungry trout.
If you’re on a mission to become a fish catching machine, it’s important that you’re familiar with how the 12 seasons change in your particular area. When do the rains begin? When does snow melt happen? When do the temperatures begin to rise? Which flies will work best in these conditions? How should I present my fly?
Ask yourself these questions, and with time, you’ll find that the more you’re able to accurately adjust the season you’re fishing, the more fish you’ll catch. As always, thanks for reading.
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