A Day on the Lake: September Stillwater Fly Fishing

September is a month of transition on stillwaters. With the heat of summer fading, trout shake off their lethargy and feed aggressively in preparation for winter. Here’s how to approach a typical day on the lake this month.

Morning: Start Deep and Steady

At first light, water is coolest near the bottom, and trout often patrol deeper zones. Start your day by probing five to six metres (15–18 feet) with sinking or intermediate lines.

• Best flies: leeches, scuds (shrimp), and the occasional blob (daphnia).

• Retrieve: slow and steady—hand-twist or short strips to mimic natural movement.

Midday: Watch for Surface Activity

As the sun warms the lake, insect flights pick up. Calm, sunny conditions are prime for water boatman and backswimmer activity. These bugs hit the surface before diving down, triggering aggressive trout feeding.

• Look for “raindrop” dimples on the water or swirling riseforms.

• Switch to floating or intermediate lines and fish boatman or backswimmer patterns with quick, darting retrieves to imitate their movements.

Afternoon: Adjust with the Hatch

By late afternoon, trout may key in on a mix of food sources. While boatman action can continue, keep an eye out for late-season chironomid hatches. Even after a summer of gorging on midges, trout will eagerly feed if a hatch appears.

• Be ready to swap quickly to chironomid pupae patterns under an indicator.

• If no hatch is visible, stay versatile with scuds and leeches along weed edges and drop-offs.

Evening: Move Shallower for the Night Bite

As the day cools down again, trout push into shallower zones to hunt protein-rich prey. This is prime time for larger meals.

• Best flies: leeches (can't miss with a vampire leech), juvenile damselfly and dragonfly nymphs, and scuds.

• Work the shallows methodically with slow retrieves—you’ll often connect with some of the day’s biggest fish here.

Final Thoughts

Fishing stillwaters in September is about staying flexible. Start deep in the morning, watch the surface for insect flights midday, adjust for hatches in the afternoon, and finish shallow as evening sets in. With the right flies and a willingness to change tactics, you’ll tap into some of the best trout action of the season.