Autumn angling

Valley Life editor

There's snow on some mountaintops, frost on the windshield in the morning and brisk winds that harken a thought of winter -- dreadful conditions for summer-lovers, but perfect conditions for many anglers.

While many have packed up their fishing rods and picked up a rifle for moose or caribou hunting, those searching for rainbow trout have finally gotten the conditions they have been dreaming of during those long, hot months.

"Fall rainbow fishing is tough to beat," said Clyde Glatton of Wasilla. "The 'bows are just feasting right now, eating everything they can find. I'd rather fish all fall than fight all the people during the summer. It's just getting good."

Fall fishing is not for the feint of heart -- overnight trips mean your summer sleeping bag can be left at home, and gloves are almost mandatory as the icy cold water is rather unforgiving. Leaky waders can be left at home, too -- you can't stand to be cold and wet when nighttime temperatures are starting to dip below freezing.

But the payoff is worth it in many people's minds. Rainbows are extremely active in the fall, scarfing down a healthy diet of fish eggs and rotting salmon flesh.

That gives fly anglers a variety of weapons from which to pick, from beads and flies such as the Illiamna pinkie to flesh patterns of all shapes and sizes.

"I'd rather catch rainbows all day than fish for salmon," said Wasilla angler Gary Dukes. "There's something different about rainbows."

When it comes to finding trout in the fall, the best advice is to not look for them. Look for salmon, instead.

"It's like a treasure hunt. First you find the salmon and all the salmon carcasses laying around, and then you find the real treasure, rainbows sitting behind them a few feet," Glatton said. "When they are chowing down on eggs, it's fantastic fishing. As long as you are matching what they are eating, fall can be the best fishing of the year."

Parks Highway streams have built a solid reputation during the last five to 10 years as good trout waters. Of course, the Upper Kenai River is world famous for giant rainbows, but living in the Valley, you can't just get down to the Kenai for an hour or two of fishing after work.

Many of the Parks Highway streams support a healthy run of salmon, which attract thousands of anglers to the mouths of those creeks every year. With a little more work, however, anglers can find the fruits of the salmon's work -- providing the natural resources to sustain healthy rainbow stocks.

Of course, rainbows aren't the only animal feeding on rotting salmon carcasses either -- but they certainly are the smallest.

The carcasses also are breakfast, lunch and dinner for bears preparing for a long winter, so take extra caution when fishing during the autumn. They can sneak up on a stream bank without much fanfare, so paying attention is important.

Fishing with a partner is a good idea, and always have bear protection with you -- whether it's a canister of pepper spray or a firearm capable of adequately protecting yourself from the large bruins.

Fishing is generally good until freeze-up, with trout moving closer to the mouths of the creeks as the temperature dips and water levels fall.