October in September

October in September

Viking Lars | Saturday, 21 September 2024

The Seven “Ps” is a saying I first head from a former German Fallschirm Jäger (one of Germany’s special forces units), which is just typical army-lingo for being prepared. Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. In fly fishing that equates to having the casting down, the gear in order, the flies you’ll need and enough overtime at work to take a few days off. And forget the leaders either.

OK, enough with the army analogies. I do have a little overtime at work, so am heading to Sweden in two weeks for three days of lake fishing for brown- and rainbow trout. We’re going to visit Hökensås Sportsfiske again, a place I’ve really come to like. They manage around 25 lakes adjacent to the gigantic Lake Pattern in Västra Götaland. It is stockie fishing, but not your typical, small stocked lake. The lakes aren’t packed and the fish are usually superbly “grown on” and essentially wild. The waters are usually clear and with plenty of insect life.


It will be October before we get there, so insect activity is low, but one hatch is almost guaranteed - October Caddis. Brilliantly named so, because they hatch in October. Smallish, dark tan/brown caddis than can hatch in huge numbers and of not, the fish are definitely used to them. Which means that striping an imitation is often effective. Ascending pupae, emergers, fully hatched and egg layers - it’s all there.
There are hundreds of caddis patterns to choose from, but I’ve always been partial to an Elk Hair Caddis. Easy, fast, durable and good in all sizes and relevant colours. So now, in late September, I’m tying some small October Caddis. Easy one:
Hook: Ahrex FW 500/501, size 14-16.
Thread: UNI 8/0, tan or brown.
Body: Brown FlyRite.
Hackle: Natural red cock hackle.
Wing: Dyed brown elk hair.

I like to flush cut fine in the underside. That almost guarantees that it sits correctly on the surface. The profile is defined enough to be a good imitation, yet “blurry” enough to imitate all stages of the life cycles, apart from the pupa. It floats well, even when striped.

We have two day tickets booked for one particular lake that is limited to six rods and allows float tube fishing. The other two days we’ll rely on the first hand knowledge of the staff at Hökensås Sportsfiske.
This would of course be a perfect opportunity to break in the Hot Tortuga 590, which I’ve had on order for about 11 years, but apparently the serial number 666 blank hasn’t finished baking in the furnaces of Hell. Next time - I think I might go back in May for the mayfly hatch (man, insect names are really clever).

Just in case you can read Swedish, my friend, Johan Klingberg, has just released an excellent book on the history and fishing at Hökensås.
Have a great weekend!
Lars

Pod: A size 14 Elk Hair Caddis in October Caddis dressing.