Each fall, Alberta Fish & Wildlife conducts its annual stocking program, replenishing lakes and streams across the province with trout. Exact stocking dates and locations vary year to year, so we recommend checking the Alberta government's official fishing page for the most current schedule before you head out. What we can tell you is which flies to bring.

Why Fall Is Special in Alberta

As water temperatures cool through September and October, fish metabolism shifts. Freshly stocked trout are aggressive and opportunistic — they're actively feeding to build energy reserves before winter. That combination makes autumn one of the most productive seasons to be on the water, whether you're casting to a stocked lake or working a moving stream for resident browns and cutthroat.

Hopper & Terrestrial Patterns

Don't put away your dry flies just yet. Grasshoppers remain active on warm fall afternoons, and a well-placed imitation landing near a grassy bank will draw explosive strikes. Ants and wasps get blown onto the surface regularly during autumn winds, making terrestrials a reliable searching pattern well into October.

Our Hoppers & Terrestrials collection has you covered with patterns proven on Alberta water, including:

• Dave's Hopper (Brown, Green, Yellow) – A classic high-visibility pattern that pushes water and gets noticed
• Foam Hopper (Black/Orange, Green) – Unsinkable and durable for windy days and long casts
• Realistic Hopper (Cinnamon Brown, Olive/Green) & Yeti Hopper (Olive, Tan, Purple) – For pressured fish that need a more convincing profile
• Chernobyl Ant & Fat Albert – Foam attractors that double as strike indicators when fishing a nymph dropper
• Foam Ant Black & Hi-Vis Foam Ant Black – Match the late-season ant falls common across Alberta foothills lakes
• Realistic Wasp & Realistic Winged Ant Black – Finishing-touch patterns when trout get selective
• Mouse – An after-dark option for big browns along stream banks

Shop all in-stock Hoppers & Terrestrials →

Chironomid Patterns

Alberta's stillwaters — from the foothills reservoirs to the prairie lakes targeted by the stocking program — are chironomid fisheries year-round. In fall, midges hatch in the cool, flat-calm mornings and evenings. Suspending a chironomid pupa under an indicator at the right depth is often the most consistent technique for stocked trout holding in the water column.

Our Chironomids collection includes top producers for Alberta stillwaters:

• Beadhead Zebra Midge – One of the most versatile and effective chironomid patterns anywhere
• Rainbow Warrior – A proven attractor that works when naturals are difficult to match exactly
• Red Butt Chironomid (Black, Olive, Red) – The red-banded profile that Alberta fish recognize
• Ice Cream Cone (White Head/Black Body, White Head/Red Body) – High-visibility top end for low-light conditions
• Beadhead Brassie (Standard, Chartreuse, Red) – A slim, clean profile ideal for clear water
• Deep Blue Poison Tung & Juju Baetis (Purple, Red) – Versatile subsurface patterns that cross over into midge and mayfly emergences
• The Pope – A Trickflies.ca exclusive chironomid that earns its spot in every stillwater box

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A Note on Water Boatmen

Fall is prime water boatman season on Alberta lakes. These small aquatic beetles are incredibly abundant and trout smash them aggressively just below the surface. Pick up the Beadhead Water Boatman (Brown or Cream) or the unweighted Water Boatman versions

Gear Up Before You Go

Stocking locations fill quickly and word travels fast — the window of easy, fast action after stocking doesn't last long. Check the Alberta stocking schedule, pick your water, and make sure your fly box is ready. All patterns listed above are in stock and ready to ship.

Hoppers & Terrestrials →  |  Chironomids →