Once the spring fly hatches are over and the summer season begins, the most productive fishing is in the evening. The exception is that on cloudy, gray days, anglers may find a reprieve and see trout rising on the tailwaters. Otherwise, high sun, warm temperatures and clear water reveal pools that appear devoid of life, habitat that does not support trout. The folks who choose to fish during these inhospitable periods of the day will find little activity and uncomfortable surroundings. Many will become frustrated and leave the river way too early, well before the fishing begins.

As soon as the sun starts its westward journey, sliding behind the mountain and lengthening the shadows, conditions change dramatically. The river begins to wake up with mayfly spinners that have been sequestered in the riverbank vegetation. Suddenly, they’re in the air, beginning their mating dance over the riffles, looking to mate. Eastern kingbirds, swallows, goldfinches and assorted other birds start to flit about over the water, looking for an easy meal of may fly spinners. 

As the evening progresses, the air cools, the wind dies and the excitement increases with anticipation that trout will rise. The later it gets, the more the intensity builds. It’s time to be vigilant, to look and listen for the subtlety of night-feeding trout. That means not just looking for rises in low light, but listening for rises too. Fish that feed at dusk and later do not make a lot of commotion and noise, especially when they are feeding on spent flies. So it takes a keen eye and ear, plus intense concentration to spot and hear the rises of trout as they go about their business. Rises at this time have a tendency to be on the soft side with just a nose, dorsal fin and tip of the tail quietly breaking the surface. On the chalk streams of England, anglers call this type of feeding “trout on the fin.” 

Once mating and egg laying is complete, the mayfly spinners will begin to drop and die, bringing hungry trout to the surface. Now is the time for large trout—and I mean 18- to 20-inch fish—to be on the prowl, looking to feed heavily during a very short window, because most spinner falls do not last that long.

In my experience, this is the best time to be on the river. Big trout, especially brown trout, are not very active during the daylight hours once the summer season begins. As a result, those fish concentrate their feeding to dusk and into the night. That means 15 to 30 minutes of feeding activity. I cannot tell you readers how often all of a day’s fishing can be concentrated during this short period of time, just as darkness descends on the river. That means it will be difficult to hear and see rises, see natural flies on the water, or the fly at the end of your tippet. So those fly fishers that take up fishing at dusk will learn to listen as well as look for rises and cast their flies accordingly.

I can also tell you, from years of fishing at dusk, it is the best and easiest time to catch really big trout. These fish have such a short period of time when food is available and light conditions are favorable that they will take just about any fly that enters their cone of vision. They are not at all fussy.

Sadly, most anglers do not stay on the river during this most productive period of time. Instead, they leave because they cannot see rises or their flies on the water. Over the years, I’ve adapted to fishing at dusk without seeing my fly. Thats’s because I know that my leader is about 10 feet long, and by watching the end of my fly line, I’ll know where my fly is. So if I see or hear a rise anywhere in that vicinity, I set the hook. Unless it is absolutely necessary, I always fish down or across and down to feeding trout. That way, my rod tip is always pointed toward the fly; there is no slack. 

Anglers that are willing to take the time to learn to fish at dusk and later will be substantially rewarded for their efforts. Not only will they more than likely have the river to themselves, but catch bigger trout too. Perhaps a fish of a lifetime. Last year fishing at dusk on the East Branch of the Delaware, I hooked and landed a brown trout in the 24-inch range, on a number 16 rusty spinner. That fish was one of the biggest, if not the biggest trout that I ever hooked on a fly. 

Nighttime on a river is a special, peaceful and magical time. It’s entirely different environment than the day. There is electricity in the air, with anticipation that trout will feed heavily and hopefully come to our flies. 

If you are a serious angler looking for a challenge, in which the rewards can be very high, try a river at night. I don’t think you will be disappointed. Just keep in mind that if you are not familiar with the water you plan to fish, check it out to learn the depth, bottom and flow so you don’t have a problem wading. Make sure to bring a headband light and plenty of insect repellent. Bugs can be brutal once the sun sets!