Back in April, I kicked off Fishmas in the Eastern Sierra, chasing that first bite of the season along with anglers from all over the West. Since then, my summer has been full of backpacking miles, alpine lakes, and high-country trails. But as the air cools and the aspens turn, it’s time to shift gears — fall in the Sierra means it’s time to bring the fly rod back out.
For many of us, that means considering a few classic fall fisheries. Lake Heenan, with its Lahontan Cutthroats and short autumn-only season, is at the top of the list. Head south, and the East Walker River is a fall trophy destination for browns and rainbows. Drive north, and the waters around Graeagle in the Northern Sierra offer familiar fall favorites.
And just as the bite heats up, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife adds another twist: the Heritage Trout Challenge. Suddenly, fall isn’t just about catching trout — it’s about catching history.
Why Fall is Prime Time for Fly Anglers
Fall fly fishing in the Sierra has its own rhythm. The summer snowmelt is long gone, streams run clear, and cooler water temps kick trout into feeding mode. Browns color up and get aggressive. Rainbows and brookies feed hard before winter. And for those willing to walk a little farther or explore a new stretch of water, fall often means fewer crowds and more solitude.
Unlike spring or summer, when high flows and recreational traffic can make fishing tricky, fall offers cleaner drifts, calmer mornings, and hungry fish. Whether you’re stripping a streamer along a cut bank or drifting a size-18 midge through a riffle, the odds are in your favor.
Heenan Lake and the Allure of Lahontans
Ask around, and Lake Heenan always rises to the top of the fall conversation. Open only from September through November, Heenan is known for its trophy-sized Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, a native species once nearly lost from Sierra waters. These fish are more than just a prize — they’re broodstock, the source of eggs that help fuel recovery and stocking programs across the state.
If you’ve never fished Heenan, it’s worth planning a trip. The regulations — artificial lures and barbless hooks only — keep it challenging but rewarding. Fly anglers often find success with chironomids, balanced leeches, or small streamers under an indicator, while spin anglers lean on spoons and spinners. Most anglers fish from float tubes or kayaks, but shoreline casting can also pay off when fish are cruising the shallows.
And even if you don’t hook a cutthroat, the experience of a fall day at Heenan — golden aspens, the quiet of the back groves, and the occasional mule deer slipping through the brush — makes the trip worth it.
Other Fall Favorites: East Walker and Graeagle
Just south of Heenan, the East Walker River offers another fall highlight. This tailwater is famous for its wild browns and rainbows, and as water temperatures drop, the bite often gets better. Nymphing deep runs, swinging streamers, or drifting small midges can all produce in October and November. For anglers chasing trophies, the East Walker remains a must-fish water each fall.
To the north, the Graeagle region in the Northern Sierra offers a different kind of fall fishing. Lakes like Gold Lake, Salmon Lake, and streams in the Lakes Basin area come alive with color and fish activity. These waters may not carry the same “trophy” reputation as Heenan or the East Walker, but they offer accessible, family-friendly fishing paired with some of the best fall scenery in the Sierra.
The Heritage Trout Challenge
This year, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has made fall fishing even more exciting with the Heritage Trout Challenge. The premise is simple: catch six different forms of native trout from their historic drainages, document them with photos, and submit your catches for a personalized certificate featuring original artwork.
What makes it special is the way it pushes you to explore. Catching a Lahontan Cutthroat at Heenan Lake qualifies. Landing a Paiute Cutthroat in Silver King Creek does too. Add a California Golden Trout from the South Fork Kern, or an Eagle Lake Rainbow from Lassen County, and you start to stitch together a story of California’s trout heritage.
There’s no time limit on completing the challenge, so anglers can chip away season by season. But fall is a natural time to start — the trout are active, the waters are clear, and the Sierra’s diversity is on full display.
Planning a Fall Fly Fishing Weekend
If you’re considering a trip, here are a few ways to maximize a fall weekend in the Sierra:
- Day One: Fish Heenan Lake in the morning, chasing Lahontans from a float tube.
- Day Two: Drift the East Walker River for aggressive browns and rainbows.
- Alternate North Trip: Base in Graeagle for lakes and streams with excellent fall fishing and brilliant mountain scenery.
- Add the Challenge: Pick a water that qualifies for the Heritage Trout Challenge and make your catch count toward something bigger.
And don’t forget the small-town perks — a warm meal at a Markleeville café after a cold day on Heenan, or a stop in Bridgeport after fishing the East Walker. These little Sierra towns complete the experience.
Why Fall Matters
For Sierra anglers, fall is more than just another season. It’s a chance to fish waters that feel quieter, to target trout that are at their most colorful, and to connect with the Sierra in one of its most rewarding moods. Whether you’re chasing a certificate in the Heritage Trout Challenge, hunting big browns on the East Walker, or netting a Lahontan Cutthroat at Heenan, fall fly fishing is as much about the journey as the fish.
So this year, don’t pack the rod away after summer. Grab your flies, your waders, and maybe a camera for the Challenge — and let the Sierra’s fall waters remind you why we fish.
