Hatches, Headwaters, and the Tail End of the Season

Now is definitely a prime time to get out on the local trout lakes. Most lakes are fishing very good right now, with lots of fish in the 2-4 pound range to be caught. My favorite strategies for larger fish are working the shallows at dusk in a float tube - moving along as quietly as possible and slowly working various nymph patterns along the weed edges, and right on top of weedy shoals that have ready access to deeper water. During the day I like to work my flies deeper (12'-15' depth), working them slowly right along the bottom. If you are lucky (and observant), you may catch the fleeting surface action of an afternoon backswimmer "hatch".

Despite all of this, I seem to be drawn more to moving water this year. Headwaters cutthroat streams are generally fishing good and there are still enough hatches trickling off to keep things interesting. This past weekend saw a good emergence of Red Quill Mayflies (Cinygmula sp.) on the higher elevation freestone streams. Admittedly the fishing was a little sparse on the waters we chose to ply, but the intense fall colors, pleasantly warm days, and relaxed company more than made up for the shortage of fish.


Cinygmula sp. (female spinner)



Cinygmula sp. (male spinner)

Cinygmula duns look similar to the spinners but with a more dusky appearance; and they tend to be more important and accessible to the trout than the spinners. The most effective dun patterns are a parachute style fly with an amber or reddish brown body in size #14 to #16, or a cripple emerger in the same colors and sizes (we caught most of our fish on the cripple emerger). The slightly reddish cast of the females is due to the eggs that fill the abdomen - once egg laying is complete, the spent spinner is a transparent empty husk with minimal food value.

Cinygmula sp. (spent female spinner)



Typical headwaters Cinygmula sp. habitat

 Cinygmula nymphs prefer cooler reaches of headwaters streams and rivers.

Glossosoma and North Ram River Update

It was back to the North Ram River this past weekend. Since I only had Saturday free I chose to spend it on one of the lower reaches. To expedite access, and add a little challenge/adventure to the trip, I relied on pedal power to get me to my destination. The trail was a little rougher than usual (probably the worst I have seen it over the years) - it seems the ATV crowd, in their quest to avoid the very trail damage they cause, have expanded the mud holes to mammoth proportions and are chewing up a maze of ancillary trails - none of which are conducive to walking or biking.

I went in armed with a few simple #18 naked caddis larva and pupa to immitate the Glossosoma caddisflies that were so prevelant a few weeks back. The theory was that even if the hatch had already occured, the trout would still have a strong search immage of the larva or pupa, and respond accordingly.

 

The lower reach I was on did not seem to have as many Glossosoma larva attached to the rocks as the upper stretch I fished two weeks ago. I am not sure if this was due to the hatch having already occured, or simply less larvae in the lower reach. Regardless, I alternated between the larva and pupa all morning; finding the larva pattern to be very effective.

  

The day was bright and sunny until about 2:00pm - late afternoon saw a few rain squalls blow through. The resulting Mayfly hatch made for some fast and furious action on small gray Baetis emerger patterns. It was a spectacular way to close out the day.

A Quick Float on the Red Deer River

Early morning cool temperatures and wind kept most hatches (or at least rising fish) in check on the Red Deer River this past weekend.  The few fish that were rising were doing so sporadically and I was unable to figure them out. Things did calm down in the afternoon as temperatures climbed into the high 20's but the blazing sun did little to entice fish into surface feeding mode. I am sure that if I could have stayed on the river into the evening, more rising fish would have materialized.



Early morning on the Red Deer River

Regardless, I did well working Green Drake and Baetis nymphs in the runs, and soft water along the edges. I did hook a few decent browns but it was the good numbers of chunky whitefish that provided most of the entertainment for the day.