A few more things to watch for as you work your favorite freestone trout stream...
If the adults are returning to the water to lay eggs, a big bushy dry fly pattern will draw large trout to the surface. If things are quiet on top, a nymph pattern will do equally as well.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Shifting Gears
This is the time of year that I make the shift from fishing mainly lakes to focusing on streams and rivers. There are a few mayfly hatches at this time of year but is the stonefly hatches that really bring larger trout to their feeding stations. If water levels are favorable on your local trout stream, have a look along the banks for signs of fresh stonefly emergence, then choose your fly accordingly.
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Stonefly emergence sites are obvious on bridge abutments but if you look closely at larger rocks and tree trunks along the stream you will be surprised at the number of shed exuvia that are present. |
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There are four species of stonefly exuvia here - all emerging at the same time of year. |
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The white filaments are the linings of the tracheal respiratory system that are shed along with the exoskeleton. |
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Looking for a Place to Happen
Yes, dragonflies are on the move. Working a nymph along the bottom and it's game on!
Epitheca spinigera - Fresh from the water and looking for a place to emerge |
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Get Real
If you are fishing lakes at this time of year forget about all of those attractor type fly patterns. Dragonfly and damselfly emergence is in full swing - so imitating the migrating nymphs as they make their way to shore is the way to go.
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire
Monday, May 15, 2017
Best Bet for Spring Trout
One of the first mayflies to emerge in the spring are blue winged olives (Baetis sp.). These mayflies tend to have two or three generations per season depending on how fertile and warm the stream is. When fishing the nymphs remember that it will be the larger mature nymphs that are getting ready to emerge that will be the most active. A simple olive Hare's Ear type pattern is all that is needed, but if you're fishing a fly larger than size 16 your fly is too big.
Most Baetis nymphs emerge mid-stream on the surface but a few species will crawl out along the stream margin.
Not all blue winged olive duns are olive - some come in shades of tan or rusty-brown.
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Baetis sp. nymphs - the larger nymph in the foreground will be ready to emerge in a week or so,
the smaller one in the back still has some growing to do and will emerge in mid-summer.
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Baetis sp. nymph getting ready to emerge. |
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Baetis sp. dun almost fully emerged |
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
The End of Winter
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