Photo by Eric Engbretson.

Most outdoors oriented folks here in the Mountain State usually start turning their interests back toward hunting once we "round the bend" just after Labor Day. However, some of the finest fishing you can experience can occur now at this most spectacular time of the year. It matters little what species you are focused on, as most game fish kick it back into another gear after the dog days of summer are gone.

As water temperatures cool down, and the water turns over in our reservoirs and lakes, numerous species get ready to spawn and feed. Temperatures have now turned around and become cooler. Most game fish species will take advantage of these late-season conditions to feed heavily to put on weight before winter.

Another factor to like about fall fishing is the relative lack of anglers one has to deal with in comparison with spring and early summer. There are usually fewer insects to deal with as well. In addition, you can add in the possibility of a combination trip where you hunt a little in the morning and mix in a little fishing in the afternoon.

ELK RIVER TROUT
For many folks who head to the mountains, the fall is a super time to seek trout. All kinds of salmonids are active at this time of year and brook and brown trout will now be sporting their spawning colors. For those anglers who enjoy fall trout fishing, you could not pick a better spot than the upper Elk River.

You can pretty well start right at Cherry Falls just outside of Webster Springs, and work your way for 35 miles all the way to Slatyfork and above and be into excellent fishing. The river holds a considerable number of wild brown trout in addition to the numerous stocked brook, rainbow and brown trout. In addition, a number of the feeder streams hold native brook trout for those who love to pursue nature's finest.

You can pretty much cover the whole spectrum of water types in the Elk. It matters little if you prefer larger pools, pocket water or narrow chutes interspersed with riffles. You can find just about anything in the way of water types in this blue ribbon river. From a technique standpoint, fall on the Elk is a time when spinning and flyfishermen will more than hold their own. Spin-fishermen would do well to lean on Rooster Tails, small Mepps Aglia spinners, spinner- fly tandem rigs, Blue Fox Vibrax spinners and small jointed Rapala minnow lures.

Flyfishermen should look to streamers like Woolly Buggers in olive, black, and yellow matuka-style patterns, Clouser minnows and Mickey Finns. Nymph fishermen will want to lean on patterns such as the Prince, Pheasant Tail, olive and grey Gold-ribbed Hare's Ear, hellgrammite and red squirrel nymphs. You will want to have these patterns in both beadhead and the normal non-beadhead configuration. Dry-fly anglers will want to use ant and beetle patterns, small grasshoppers, stimulators, elk hair caddis and midge patterns.

There are numerous places to camp along the river, and the trout will usually cooperate at this time of the year. You can catch all four species of trout on the same day, and it matters little what technique you opt for. Often, the water will be low, so a stealthy approach becomes even more critical than normal. The upper Elk is a great place regardless of the season, but it is an especially fun place once autumn starts to unfold its spectacular colors.

STONECOAL LAKE MUSKIES
If catching trophy muskies is your game, you need look no farther than Stonecoal Lake in Lewis County just south of Weston. There is a 3,000-acre wildlife management area here and a decent semi-improved campground. You can access the lake from off Brushy Fork Road just east of Weston. This road takes you back to the upper lake access. You can also get to this impoundment from off Georgetown Road, which will get you to the west end access and ramp.

Stonecoal has been a great place to get in some great topwater activity for muskies, especially once the lake has "turned over." Most folks will rely on big plugs, crankbaits, buzzbaits, tube baits and spoons. Both of West Virginia's state muskie records for length and weight are from Stonecoal. The weight record is a monstrous 49.75-pound muskie taken by Anna Marsh in 1997, whereas the length record is a 52.7-inch giant caught in 2003 by Glenn Boyd.

Even if the muskie fishing is slow, you will probably catch largemouths, as Stonecoal also holds some better than average bass. However, for those who persist and effectively work the numerous prongs of this lake, odds of latching into one of the lake's big muskies is good, especially once the lake's waters turn over.

Kevin Yokum, a fisheries biologist for District 3, recently said that the most effective way to get into one of these monsters is to troll, and to run your crankbait, spoon or plugs deep. He stressed that Stonecoal is a little abnormal when compared with many of the other muskie fisheries in the state because of its water clarity and the deeper main channels found at this impoundment.