Does anyone else feel like it is here to stay? The Spring vibe? Cool nights, warm days, and no more days upon days of clouds and rain. May I hope May is a little sunnier? We are off to a good start.
Focus this past week has been in the flow - the middle of the water column. The flies that live their lives in the two inch pillow populated with crawling and clinging nymphs now start making a dash for the surface or the sides. The water column turns into a superhighway for the flies making ready for flight - Caddis, Quills, and Hendericksons, as well as RS2, WD40, and puff nymphs.
Downwing or soft hackle flies imitate this stage of life. Emergers and sparkle pupae should begin working early in the morning and are good choices through dusk. I fished a number of times during the week and weekend. Anglers were spread out and everyone seemed to be into fish. I came across a client who shared this beautiful tiger trout caught in one of the TCAs on Saturday. Try putting a nymph or midge below the wetfly or a dry in front as the dropper.

Larger fare can get it done when the aquatic insect action slows down. I had two brand new fly anglers on a trip this weekend. We started swinging wooly buggers and mop flies (CRANE FLY larva) and got a few hits. Being new, the couple struggled setting the hook on such tentative takes. I knew the hole we were in had fish so I switched to the ol’ squirmy wormy and - wham - the hits turned to hook-sets and we were on the board. After a few to hand, we turned back to smaller sized flies - La Fontaine, bird’s nest, pheasant tails and hare’s ear. The takes were still consistent through the morning until about 11. With the sun being more directly overhead, the fish became scarce. The clients looked at me like it was something I did. We turned back to the larger offerings and finished strong until about 1 pm.
If you are waiting for the best conditions to fish - this is it! With two days topping 80 degrees early this week the dry fly bonanza will likely commence. I’m going to try to get out and catch one - even if I can not fish. Seeing a river boil with feeding trout is a sight to see and hear.
See you out there.
Roy B.
Local Hatches 4/28/2024 - same as a report from a few years back!
Hendrickson Ephemerella subvaria Light Hendrickson/ Red Quill #12-14, Hare's Ear 12-14, Hendrickson Emerger #14
Quill Gordon Epeorus pleuralis Quill Gordon #12
Grannom Brachycentrus numerosus & B. fuliginosus Peacock Elk Hair Caddis #14-18, Henryville Special #14-16, JK's Caddis Pupa #14-16, Cased Caddis #14, Partridge and Peacock Soft Hackle #16-18, John Kavanaugh's Grannom Emerger #16
Blue Quill Paraleptophlebia adoptiva Blue Quill #16, Blue Dun #16, Adams Parachute #16, Grey RS2 #16, Pheasant tail #16
Spotted Sedge Hydropsyche spp. Tan Elk Hair Caddis #14-16, Green Rockworm or JC's Electric Caddis #14-18, LaFontaine's Sparkle Pupa #14-16
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