I know this time of year, most of the outdoor gang is gravitating towards the various hunting seasons, but for those of us who also include fishing in our outdoor adventures, this is still a good time to hit the water.

I’ll admit that the fishing opportunities have been a little tough late this summer and into the fall season due to extremely low water levels caused by a lack of rainfall, but the recent rains have improved the levels somewhat.

I haven’t had enough time to get on a stream in all my fishing gear lately, but I did stop by a favorite spot just to get a quick look at what was happening. The water was low and very clear, as expected, but I did observe at least eight or ten trout actively feeding and moving up and down the stretch.

Fishing can be tough in these low, clear situations, but you can still take trout in these fall conditions.

I just talked with a friend of mine who also enjoys fishing, and he told me that last week he went out to fish a small stream in his area. He spotted some trout in a hole below a bridge and put some wax-worms on a small hook with no weight; he managed to hook five brown trout. He said one of the trout was over 20 inches. The point is that trout fishing can still be productive in the fall, even under our current conditions.

So what’s the best approach?

For starters, you need to be extremely cautious with your movements so as not to spook trout in that very low, clear water. Limit your movement as much as possible and try to avoid too much water disturbance.

As for what type of lures or baits to use, that’s pretty much open to what you feel most comfortable with.

Obviously, using bait for trout is not just a springtime choice, and if done properly, it can be productive even during the current fall conditions.

In addition to the usual baits, crickets and grasshoppers are also on the trout’s menu later in the season.

A minnow-type lure, like a small floating Rapala or even an inline spinner in a smaller size, would likely generate some action.

Good old worms and obviously wax worms will also produce as well as live minnows. Keep your gear small and use a cautious approach.

I especially prefer to go after trout with fly fishing gear, and fall is no exception. Flies are light and can be gently placed where needed in the low, clear water. While mayfly activity has slowed considerably, some patterns will still pick up trout like a number 16 or 18 Blue-winged Olive and even a small Deer-hair Caddis.

Definitely some fall patterns to have on hand would be those that imitate land-based insects like crickets, grasshoppers, ants, beetles, caterpillars, and even a white moth pattern. Sometimes those dark ant and beetle patterns are hard to spot while drifting on the surface, so I tie a tiny bit of something white on the back of the pattern to make it easier to see while floating. Streams, nymphs, and even mop fly patterns will also still produce.

Believe me, there are still some trout left in many of our streams, and the Fish and Boat Commission is also involved in a fall stocking schedule in many of our streams and lakes, so there’s still some potential for a good day on the water.