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This week the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife will stocking the last trout of the spring with an additional 48,000 Rainbow trout slated to be released. Due to concerns of crowding, there will be no usual or published schedule. The early catch and release season seemed to be a big hit so that may continue in the future. With so many group activities such as youth sports being cancelled it has been nice to see so many families fishing. We will be open for curbside pickup everyday including Memorial Day. Please just phone orders in as we can't allow anyone inside the store.
It has been an interesting spring with a mild March, a cold, wet April and the first part of May leading us to the last week or so of fine weather. Caddis have really been carrying much of the action for the last month or so. The Grannoms appeared in April and in early May, the Spotted Sedge (Tan Caddis) began to hatch in good numbers. These caddis will be on the water in one form or another well into October. They will hatch in the mid to late morning into early afternoon like clockwork. As for mayflies, while we had Hendricksons before March ended, we've had to wait until just a couple of days ago to really see the second major super hatch- the Sulphurs begin to appear in numbers. This is an evening hatch. John Collins reported an excellent hatch last night on the Musky. Tonight on the South Branch we saw both the the large (invaria) and smaller (dorothea) Sulphur varieties on the water. Not a blanket hatch yet on the South Branch, but it's coming. Last night and tonight, I took fish on the #14 Sulphur Parachute while other anglers reported better action on emergers and nymphs. A #18 Adams was my pick this evening and a quick look at the hatch chart why it was a nice second choice.
Local Hatches 5/18/2020:
Morning 9-11 am:
Spotted Sedge Hydropsyche spp. Tan Elk Hair Caddis #14-18, LaFontaine's Tan Sparkle Pupa #14-18, Hare's Ear Soft Hackle #14-16, Tan Bird's Nest #14-18.
Green Sedge Rhyacophila lobifera Olive Elk Hair Caddis #14-18, LaFontaine's Olive Sparkle Pupa #14-16, Partridge & Soft Hackle #14-16, Olive Bird's Nest #14-18, Henryville Special #14-16
Midday through Late Afternoon 12 noon - 5pm:
Caddis may continue to hatch. see above
Blue Wing Olive Baetis levitans, interclaris, quebecensis, vagans. RS2, BWO, Pheasant Tail Nymph #18-20
Pale Speckled Wing Olive Callibaetis ferrugineous Adams, Blue Quill, BWO #16-18, Pheasant tail #16-18
March Brown Maccaffertium vicarium March Brown Deer Hair Emerger, March Brown dun #10-12
Evening 6-8pm:
Eastern Brown Quill Siphlonurus quebcencis Adams, Grey Wulff or Blue Dun #10-12
Mayfly Spinners #16-20 (Species listed above)
Egg laying and spent Tan or Olive Caddis.
The Sulphur hatch is an annual highlight so I'll be posting a few of Tim's patterns. Let's start with a couple. Since Euro-Nymphing is all the rage, we'll start with a Sulphur Perdigon and then a classic the Sulphur Parachute.