Fall Fishing Forecast: Chapter 1- The Winds of Change
Situated between the 31st and 37th parallel of north latitude in the southwestern quadrant of North America, Arizona lays on the fringe of the Mexican Monsoon.
While most of the year Arizona is under the influence of northern Pacific Ocean, during the months of July, August, and into the first part of September, the pressure belts shift north. This seasonal shift imports southern moisture from the Gulfs of Mexico and California.
The moisture has its pluses providing much needed rain in the form of afternoon thunderstorms and moderate afternoon temperatures. It also has its minuses, mostly in the form of higher overnight lows resulting in the warming of the trout waters we fish. Additionally, main stems of our undammed rivers often take on the color of chocolate milk, inhibiting the pursuit of sight-feeding warm water species like smallmouth bass.
The Mexican Monsoon manifests as the dog days of summer.
Yet already the winds of change are blowing as the pressure belts slip back to the south. In the next couple of weeks, the dominant atmospheric flow will return to a western regime and the southern moisture will be scoured. Expect below freezing overnight temperatures in the high country and clearing water in the rivers.
Now is not the time to put away the rods for the season. In fact, late September through mid-November offers some of the best fishing of the year.
It is more than improved water conditions though. In the high country, the fall colors will be on display in early October and the elk will be bugling. Brisk mornings will yield to t-shirt afternoons. Lower elevations will be more accommodating as well with relief from the sun early and late in the day.
Stay tuned. Over the next couple weeks we are going to discuss some of the fisheries we will target this fall. The fish are fat, the browns and brookies will be anxious, the water temps are cooling, and the weather will some of the best of the year.
Fall is a time to fish.