Fishing Reports

HATCHES FOR THE SOUTH BRANCH AND LOCAL TROUT STREAMS
February 28th - March 7th

Updated February 28, 2010

Shannon's bids a sad farewell to Anna, the Shop Cat, who went on walkabout two weeks ago and hasn't returned. She will be missed around the shop.

Stop by for our upcoming tying classes with Matt Grobert on 3/7/10, Allen Landheer on 4/4/10 (streamer class), and Andy Sutton on 4/14/10 (saltwater flies).

One Bubba was caught and released but there is another one still out there from last year. The Grey's fly rod is still to be won! There are some nice fish out there, about 170 fish courtesy of the Musky Hatchery in Asbury. Bubba is a big Brown but the rest of the fish are Rainbows including some bruisers over twenty inches! GBW Insurance of Flanders is once again co-sponsoring the contest.

Finally the weather has started to cooperate! We've had a few beautiful days to fish. Still, anglers getting out are reporting good success in the Gorge, Point Mountain and the Pequest. Scuds, Prince and Hare's Ear nymphs continue to produce. Try using small Pheasant Tail nymphs and Chimarra Caddis Larva. These are the Early Black Caddis and the larva are orange. Lenny tied some really nice ones so check them out. Area streams have been fishing well when the water isn't too high or cold. Early Black Stoneflies are already getting started as anglers have reported success using small stonefly nymph patterns. The Gorge is open but parking is limited to the Califon and Highbridge lots at either end. Due to the Fall and Bubba stockings, this time of year often yields the largest fish of the year. Brave the cold and catch a nice fish! Three patterns have been particularly hot: Rainbow Warrior (a midge pattern), Bob Jacklyn's Green Rock worm, and RS2 in Grey, Brown, or BWO in sizes 18-22. Learn to slow those drifts down as the fish are going to move a little more slowly as the water temperatures drop. That doesn't mean that the trout will stop feeding. They feed all winter long. As far as when to fish try to fish a little later in the morning through the afternoon as this will be the time when the water will warm a little and the fish will be more active. With the Fall Stocking completed there are some large fish swimming around. Please conserve these fish and give others a chance to enjoy them. Dry fly action such as it is for this time of year has been starting between 10am- dark depending on the temperatures. If it is cooler then action is usually later. A small Adams or BWO Parachute size 18-20 has been fooling some trout. Sometimes the trout are attracted to something bright. Try a Globug egg or San Juan Worm.

It's mostly about nymphs, streamers and midges. Small Copper Johns have been working well. Its definitely scud time, fish them around sunken logs and other woody debris; trout eat them all winter long! Lots of midges are hatching so break out those midge pupa and larva imitations like the zebra or blood midge and the desert storm in sizes 18-24. Small flies and light tippets may be the order of the day when the sky is clear and sunny.

New! Details on Fall Hatches

General Hatches, Fly Recommendations and Tips:

During the morning: Trail a Copper John #16-18, Grey or Tan Scud, Zebra Midge #18-22, Cream Flashback Hare's Ear #14-16, Pheasant Tail #16-18, Glo-Bug #14-16 or San Juan Worm #12-14 behind a Prince Beadhead #12-14, Pheasant Tail #12-14 or Hare's Ear #12-14 about 18-22 inches apart and hold on! A gentle lifting motion can entice a fish to strike the trailing fly (the famous Leisering lift). Some anglers like to fish a big Black or Brown Stone #6-10. Use enough weight to keep the flies just off the bottom drifting slowly. Streamers: Muddler Minnows, Woolly Buggers, Grey Ghost, Black Nose Dace, and Zonkers if the water is off color.

Hare’s Ear nymph standard and beadhead # 12-18. Try the Olive and Cream Flashbacks now too.
RS2 #18-22 Grey, Brown, BWO
Copper John # 14-18 Copper and Black Use this nymph now, especially in the Gorge!
Black Stonefly Nymph #16-18
Rainbow Warrior #18 Another great midge larva pattern
Walt's Worm #14 This imitation of the Crane fly larva has been a steady winter producer.
Prince Nymph/ Zug Bug (Beadhead, Poxy Back, Standard) Use this nymph now!
Pheasant Tail nymph standard, Beadhead, and flashback #18-20
Scuds and Sowbugs: Grey or Tan, # 14-18
Caddis Larva: Green or Chartreuse is a must right now or try Orange #16-18.
Midge Larva: Disco midges in Green, Red, or Black size 18-22
Woolly Buggers: Black, Olive and Brown #10-14 Conehead Muddler Minnows work too.

Note: I use larger nymphs and bead-heads when the water is higher and less weight when water drops. On the South Branch, use the heavier flies when the stream flow exceeds about 175-185 cfs.

Local Hatch Chart

MORNING (6am-10am)

Fish nymphs like the Prince, Copper John, Hare's Ear and Pheasant Tail Flashback.

ALL DAY 10am-4pm

RS2 Grey, Brown (Especially on the Pequest) or BWO #18-22 seems to work all winter especially on warmer days. Brown and Black Stoneflies in sizes 6-18 will work all winter.

AFTERNOON 12 noon-4pm

Grey, Cream or black midges maybe on the surface size 18-26 Use a Griffith's Gnat or small BWO, Blue Dun or Adams Parachute or Midge.

Early Black Stone Fly Allocapnia & Capnia vernalis Black Stonefly #16-18 Stoneflies are hatching on warmer days. Look for the returning egg layers to be skittering across the water.

LATE AFTERNOON-EVENING

Find some fish feeding on midges and use a small Adams or BWO Parachute size 18-22. Fish shouldn't be quite as selective as other times of year. Often if you find them you can catch them on a nymph or streamer too.

Shannon's would like to thank the following companies for sponsoring our events