Fly Fishing in Maine: October

October is referred to as the "extended season" for many of our trout and landlocked salmon fisheries. Although many bodies of water shut down and close after October 1st, there are still plenty of opportunities to be had. The striped bass fishing in October can also be phenomenal and warm water species such as smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and northern pike are all viable options this time of year.

Though many of our northern rivers will be closed at this time, there are many places that stay open until the end of October, as well as a handful of year-round trout and salmon fisheries. Most of our major rivers like the Kennebec, Presumpscot and Saco rivers are open year round or have extended season dates. Check the Maine Fishing Law Book for specifics.

Be careful not to step on spawning redds this time of year, and to avoid fishing for fish that are actively spawning.

Trout and salmon will be very aggressive and willing to chase down a streamer, especially if you find fish that have not been pressured. Black Ghosts, Montreal Floozie, Blossom Specials, Golden Retriever Jigs, and Woolly Buggers will all produce fish. Nymphing tactics will be more productive towards fish that may be finicky or not aggressively defending their area. As the hatches really start to slow down, always have some small BWO patterns available. Blue Winged Olives can be a key food source for trout in the late season and a BWO hatch after a fall rain storm can really bring some nice fish to the surface. When this happens, simple classics such as a Parachute Adams will do the trick.

(a cool morning striped bass taken on a large sand eel pattern)

Striped bass fishing during October in Maine may be the most underrated experience out there. Fish start to feed hard this time of year. Large fish become easier to catch, and surface activity is a regular occurrence. This time of year you should be focusing on smaller flies to match the forage. A small white Bay Anchovy, or white Clousers can be killer when there is peanut bunker around, and a King's Hoo Fly or Jiggy Sand Eel fished off the beach where sand eels are present is sure to produce results. Crabs become less numerous this time of year but the bigger bass like to key in on them so patterns such as the Maine Merkin or Tactical Tungsten Crab are good to have as well. Occasionally around rocks and ledges some larger patterns that imitate mackerel or pollack can be the ticket. Usually this time of year it's either lights out good or completely dead. This can flip like a switch and it is important to be patient. Most of the bass are schooled up tight this time of year so when there's one theres almost always more. Beaches, rocky ledges, river mouths, and even up into the marshes can be good.

Many people have been gravitating towards warmwater species such as smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and northern pike this time of year. River smallmouth fishing can be really good this time of year and pike provide the oppotunity at some very large predatory fish in freshwater scenarios. Top water flies are still not out of the picture yet, but carrying bigger subsurface bait fish patterns this time of year becomes important as well. As water cools and weeds start to recede concentrate around remaing structure as fish will usually hug it tight. 

Writted by: Joe Webster + Josh Thelin

Photos: Josh Thelin