Fall Trout Fishing | 5 Flies to Cast in November

Must Have Flies for Fall Trout Fishing in Pennsylvania

TROUT FISHING | FLY FISHING

November 11, 2016 by FISH THIS Staff

Do not let the cold keep you inside this fall. Fall trout fishing in Pennsylvania can be one of the best times to hit the water. Some trout waters have been stocked one last time during the fall and most of the anglers are out in the woods in search of bucks, not brownies. Thinking about heading to the water in November? Here are several fly fishing tips for fall to help your chances of landing a few across the Keystone State this time of year.

The best flies to use for fall trout fishing are egg patterns, pheasant tail, Adams, sculpin, and hare's ear. These patterns mimic fall forage throughout many trout streams during the months of October, November, and December.

Fall Fly Fishing Tips

There are two main tips for fly fishing for trout in Pennsylvania during the fall. 

Tip number one is to fly fish where there are trout. Seems simple enough, right? Well not so fast. Many stocked trout streams have long been cleared out by November, leaving fly anglers casting to empty pools. To be successful, focus on fall stocked trout streams and those special regulation trout waters that hold native and catch and release fish. ​

The other fall fly fishing tip is to slow down your presentation. Like anything else when it gets cold, trout slow down as the waters cool from the winter air. Not only does their metabolism decrease, but their patterns change. No longer are they high in the water column waiting for passing flies (hatches are long gone by the way), but instead they are sitting on the bottom hitting rocks, searching the gravel or smacking a passing minnow. Your fly fishing techniques have to change with the changing season if you are to be at successful fall trout fishing. For instance, switch to nymphs and streamers for trout, but work them slow. Often floating a streamer like a sculpin gets your line tight this time of year.

5 Best Flies to Use for Fall Trout

If you are looking to hit the water for some fall trout fishing in Pennsylvania, make sure you have these five flies in your vest to be successful.

1. Egg Patterns - Classic cold weather fly fishing pattern. Fish it with a dropper rig with a natural fly on the bottom and an egg on top.
2. Pheasant Tail - The everyday fly fishing standard. Fish it on a dropper rig or by itself. Bead head versions give you some more weight in riffles and higher water.
3. Adams - No hatches this time of year but fall fly fishing anglers love to cast a dry every now and then. Use these on warm, sunny days in calm pools or drifted through small riffles.
4. Sculpin - Effective minnow imitation that can be fished slow, stripped fast or floated. Great for covering a ton of water and staying warm.
5. Hare's Ear -  Similar to the Pheasant Tail, the Hare's Ear is a generalist when it comes to flies. Perfect to drop behind an Adams to drift on its own.

Most local fly shops in Pennsylvania have all these patterns. In fact, many will have variations specific for a particular stream. If you don't have time to visit a fly shop, take a look at Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters. They have a huge selection of flies, which can be ordered and ready for your next fall trout fishing trip.

Fall fly fishing in Pennsylvania for trout is a wonderful thing and perhaps no better time to be wading among nature then under the fall leaves. Pack these five flies with you and remember these fall fly fishing tips to land more trout in November.