Chain Lake Hatch Chart

Here is another hatch chart that I have put together using information collected while fishing and bug collecting at Chain Lake north of Athabasca. This same chart could be generally adapted for other trout lakes that are slightly north of Edmonton (e.g. Dolberg Lake).

Chain Lake Hatch Chart

Like all hatch charts, this one should be considered a general guide to what is likely to be emerging over the summer - direct observation at the lake will always be your most reliable approach. Also, many of the bugs listed on this chart will require at least some explanation as to the details of the hatch, time of day to expect peak activity, flys to use etc. For example, the Caddisfly Molanna flavicornis requires a sand substrate and builds its case entirely out of sand grains; a material that is limited or absent in most boreal lakes. The only part of Chain Lake that has a significant area of sandy bottom is the area from the beach, south along the shore beyond the boat launch. It stands to reason then that if you are expecting to work this hatch, your efforts are best applied where the bottom is sandy. I have had good success on this hatch simply wading and casting along the rushes south of the boat launch at dusk.

Rather than a lengthy post covering all of the bugs included in this hatch chart, I will post information on each hatch as it gets rolling through the summer.



Adult Dragonflies (Epitheca spinigera) perching on lake side foliage shortly after emerging