Cool down and fall fish

Hi Folks, Finally a break in the weather.  Looks like the humid hot stuff is out of here for now.  I received 1/2" of rain last night at my house in Stowe.  Guided a large group with some help Friday on the Winooski.  Water temperature was 77 degrees at 1pm.  All beginners who wanted to learn about fly fishing.  Nice standing in the water when it is hot.  All wet wading.  So, we focused on the basics and tugged on a lot of fall fish.  Very user friendly fish that seem to eat just about any fly presented to them.  No trout and just as well due to the water temperatures.  The Winooski would not of been my choice of of places to fish with a small group or one person.  I would have fished a small mountain brook.  However, with 12 people, options are limited and it really is about having fun and learning.  Saw a fair amount of golden ston fly shucks on rocks.  Lots of cased caddis on the bottom of rocks between #18 and #20 and yellow/tan bodied.  Found #16 green bodied caddis on the tops of rocks.  Green and yellow soft hackles swung in riffles make excellent imitations of the micro caddis.  Last night as the front blew through I chased smallmouth bass.  Really stiff west wind made canoe control challenging.  Still, the smallies wanted to play and we cast on the lee sides of islands and points and the fish were pretty user friendly.  Love watching smallmouth inhale a fly.  Strong damn fish that really bend a fly rod.  The next 6 weeks should be outstanding fishing for smallies and especially for the surface bite.  Any popper between #4 and #8 in frog patterns, chartruse, or black seems to work well.  Just keep moving and casting.  Cover water!  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy