Tribs Fishing - To be Tricked or be Treated

Halloween is just around the corner and the leaf hatch is officially underway across the northeast. Unless you are fishing a tailwater or a big river system, many Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and inland tributaries are thirsty for water. Yet, salmon, browns and steelhead instinctually keep pushing upstream with that natural drive to forgo the spawning process and/or follow spawning fish to feed on eggs and flesh. Angling pressure is generally high in the fall months with anglers from near and far coming to popular rivers and tributaries, hoping to land their next big catch (and sometimes dinner). Therefore, fishing can be tough at times, having to wake up at the crack of dawn and battle it out for a good fishing spot. Paired with low, clear water puts the icing on the cake for these unfavorable conditions for chasing these big, highly sought after fish. The average working man or woman doesn’t always have the luxury to fish during peak fishing times when the flow is perfect and there is plenty of fish. Clear water can be some of the toughest fishing there is but if fish are around, a few can still be caught. 

Although fall fishing can be exciting and highly rewarding, there is a lot more to do during this time as well. Football is in full swing, apple orchards and pumpkin patches are thriving and deer hunting becomes priority one to many. That being said, fishing pressure generally declines further along into the fall that we get, with temps dropping and salmon dying off. The bite for browns and steelhead picks up during this time. Get geared up, dress comfortable, the time is now!  After this blog, we hope to shine light on a few useful tips to help you make the most out of low water situations and furthermore increase your success while fishing tributaries. This blog is based on our experiences on the water as a multi-species, warm and cold-water anglers. Let’s dive into it! 

Tucked away from all the attention of big rivers, some of the best fall fishing can be done in relatively quiet, smaller tributaries winding through farmlands and woodland forests. Hundreds of these small, feeder streams can be found on google maps or just good ole fashion exploring. If there is water, there will be fish, one way or another. Surprisingly, some big fish too reaching the 30”+ mark. You would think most of these areas shy away from the public eye. In this day and age, with social media it doesn’t take long to blow up a spot and thus, there is not many “secret spots” left. Angling has become very popular, and you’re forced to adapt as an angler to catch fish. Public access can be limited at times due to private property and swarms of posted signs along the banks. Although, many spots can still be accessed or if you’re lucky - have permission. Smaller tributaries are a great spot to take someone older who doesn’t have much mobility, new anglers or kids just learning the ropes. It’s generally safer and can be much easier to learn in my book without all the angling pressure and chaos big water often brings. More times than not, it’s just a few anglers hole hopping, enjoying a day on the water; which is much easier than getting thrown to the wolves right off the bat. Waders are not a necessity for tributary fishing, but definitely has benefits. Many times, you can just fish from the bank and don’t need to get into the water. During weekdays, often times you will have the whole creek to yourself or with very few anglers while everyone else is working. Weekends are generally busier and personally, should be avoided when possible.

When targeting these fish, many anglers use various methods but one of the most popular is beads - to imitate natural eggs drifting downstream, hoping to catch the eye of hungry trout looking for an easy meal. Primarily, we will be discussing Death Roe soft beads due to its soft feel, life-like buoyancy, and natural color selection. Paired with a quick changing ability and added scent can be key to fooling these finicky fish. Some of these attributes and pointers discussed later can be applied to other beads as well. Natural colored worms, stoneflies and marabous are often on standby. Other traditional tackle such as spinners, flies, etc. can be used effectively at times as well. 

From my experience, first light is prime time to hook (and land) low, clear water fish. I try not to shine lights in the water, kick rocks or make excessive noise. The fish feel at home, have not been harassed all day and generally willing to eat a naturally presented egg fairly easy. If you are not sure where to start try to find a nice windy bend, lay downs or logjams if present, these areas often hold fish. Be on the lookout for splashing or rising fish, this can be a telltale sign that fish are in the area and should be fished thoroughly. Fish can be caught shallower during these low light hours in the run, or closer to the bank and gradually move to slightly deeper water as the sun comes up. Unless there is pronounced riffles or cover nearby. Each hole or run varies, and thus should be observed and attacked differently.

During the low light hours, glow beads are the way to go. “Charging up” your glow bead with a UV light helps hold the glow longer and really pronounce the bead making it more effective. SuperNova is a good pick during this time. One of the most versatile beads in my book with a powerful, white glow and a natural peach/pink hue to imitate a dead egg for later in the day. Make that first hour or two count!   When the sun comes up, fish are often on high alert and can spot/feel abnormalities in their environment easy, get spooked and turned down by various factors. Includes but not limited to: fishing pressure, bad casts, excessive noise, other spooked fish, shiny weights, oversized hooks, etc. Take a minute to make a plan of attack and get in the best position when possible before getting your line wet, rather than rushing up on a spot, spooking one or more fish and ruining your chances. Longer casts are often required during this time.

While trekking along the bank, covering water efficiently is a must. Make good drifts, paying attention to what the fish are, or most likely than not, not biting and make the necessary gear changes. Spot hopping will greatly increase your success by creating more opportunities in front of fish. Generally, fish aren’t traveling in low clear water unless at low light or night. They hunker down during the day so it’s your job to go find them. If fish are knowingly present in a spot and still are not willing to bite, move on to find active fish that are willing to eat instead of wasting your time in one spot. As always, be sure to watch for subtle clues such as unpredictable float taps and movements typically created by a fish that didn’t fully commit, perhaps the hook was too big, or the fish saw the leader. Something was off the fish did not like. Use these minor details like this to further dial in your game. These fish can most likely be caught with a few minor adjustments. In extreme cases, when all goes as planned - you’ll observe a fish slide over in the seam to grab it or your egg will disappear in the run before the float even moves. 

For best success in low, clear water conditions this often calls for specialized gear. Traditional, bright main line that many anglers use today can be used, but may spook a few fish. Using a clear or green main line being less intrusive may be a better option, resulting in more bites. Be sure to keep your presentation as stealthy as possible and don’t be afraid to make adjustments on the fly. Main line color/weight, leader length/weight, float size/style (or no float at all), bead color/size, hook size, the list goes on but those are a few main ones that come to mind. Jumping from an 8mm to an 6mm bead or 6lb to 4lb leader can greatly increase your chances. Going from a 4-5 gram darker float to a 2-3 gram clear float makes a big difference. In turn, less shot is required on your rig as well.  Sometimes, “dead drifting” with no float at all is a great option and just letting the current gracefully drift your weightless egg downstream often gets gobbled up. With light line and longer leaders (within regulations) the take can be violent. In most cases with a swift, heart-stopping tug like you’re tossing a wacky rig while bass fishing. Scampi seems to be favored a lot for this technique. A transparent, deep blue that is highly underrated and believe it or not, can be the ticket at times. Other colors in the box are mostly transparent, a few glow and a handful of subdued, opaque dead egg imitators. Nat Roe and Georgia are hard to beat all around colors no matter where you’re fishing just to name a few. Often times, you almost want the bead to be barely noticeable as if the bead is sneaking up on them. Fish can see much further than you’d think. You can still catch fish on bright colors at times. For example, when targeting big browns they often get pissed off at bold chartreuse and orange beads, but generally that’s not the case for numbers when fish are wary. Regardless, it’s good to have a variety of tools in your toolbox for whatever situation you may encounter. Remember, It’s all about stealth.  When gearing up for tributary fishing, dress comfortably with your favorite beanie paired with neutral colors always been a go to: green, tans and browns. The ability to get closer to the fish, make it easier for you and them not knowing you’re there is a win, win. Try not to wear obnoxious or bright colors, (unless hunting is involved in the area) it’s super unnatural and think it easily spooks wary fish. Larger waterways may not affect the fish as much. But in clear water, it seems to make a noticeable difference between catching fish or going home skunked. Our two cents. 

We all need to have a good pair of polarized glasses. Protect your peepers and utilize them to put fish on the bank. Observe fish positioning and behavior to provide the most natural drift while safely navigating the waterways. Whether it’s Costa, Smith or Oakley the choice is yours! 

Be sure to carry a sturdy, big bucket landing net, ideally with silicone netting or one lined with rubber helping to protect the fish’s slim coat from disease. This greatly increases the survival rate of the fish, providing a swift capture and safe release. Spend the extra money for future generations!  Fall is a great time to fish some smaller tributaries, enjoy nature and possibly catch a fish of lifetime. While crowds are down, take a kid fishing or share some quality time with a loved one. Being a lone ranger is cool too. 

As always, let’s respect this great resource we all come to love - stay safe and where a lifejacket when needed, clean up your trash, follow ethical fishing practices, your local environmental regulations and report any unlawful activity. Get out there this fall and catch a few fish!