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Fall colors: Fishing edition

By Daryl Bauer

I suppose autumn or fall means a lot of things depending on who you are.  I guess for some it is pumpkin spice. I am not a big fan of pumpkin-anything, so you can cross that off my list. Of course, lots of folks look forward to the changing leaves and fall colors. Yeah, that is more like it.

yellow trees are reflected in water
Anglers fish under a canopy reflection of fall color. Photo by Jeff Kurrus, Nebraskaland Magazine, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

But you know me, it all comes back to fish.  My idea of “fall colors” is something more like this:

a collage of four different trout species
Clockwise from top left, brown trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. All caught and released from Nebraska waters in the fall. Photos by Daryl Bauer, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

All caught and released from Nebraska waters in the fall.

In that photo, the trout on top, brown and brook trout, are actually fall spawners, the only fall-spawning fish in Nebraska. Male browns and brookies in particular are spectacular in October on into November. Rainbow trout and cutthroats displayed on the bottom row spawn at a variety of times depending on the strain of trout. However, many rainbow and cuttie strains spawn in late winter on into spring. Regardless of spawning condition, as the waters cool in the fall, rainbows and cutthroats also tend to look their best!

If you are seeking waters to enjoy the fall colors, be sure to check out Trout Fishing in Nebraska’s Streams.  While you are at it, fall is one of the best, if not THE best, times to work on your Trout Slam.

Hope you get a chance this weekend, this fall, to GO FISH!