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Mid May / Early June Stream Update Water temperatures have optimized across the region, and trout have followed suit with daily relentless feeding activity. Since trout are cold – blooded animals, their metabolism and therefore their need for food is dictated by water temperature. May typically provides the first reliable and continual optimal water temperatures, and 2010 has been no exception. Stream levels have been perfect, with only a few periods of high water.
Fly hatches have been a bit earlier than usual, particularly on the mountain streams. Daily average temperatures and overnight lows have fluctuated considerably, providing the conditions for emergences of a variety of insects. The dry fly fisher has enjoyed exciting “match the hatch” opportunities as well as vivacious interest from the trout in “searcher” or “attractor” surface patterns during non- hatch periods. Nymph fishing has provided a mainstay, particularly during the morning and on cooler days. Hatch activity always indicates strong nymphal activity; every adult dry fly on the water ultimately has hatched from an aquatic nymph. Effective nymphing strategies include fishing a nymph imitation of the prevalent insect before and after a hatch, and nymphs account for some of the largest trout during any given hatch.
Blue
Winged Olives continue through May. Daily hatching activity and
sporadic spinner falls have occurred with regularity, particularly
on cool overcast days. Duns exhibit muted olive – colored bodies
and smoky wings, while the spinners have rusty – colored bodies
with clear wings.
Great
Speckled Olive hatches occur toward the end of the month. This is
a true size 10 –12 mayfly, and brings many large trout to the
surface to feed. Look for emergences toward dusk in flat water
areas, particularly at the heads and tails of pools.
Terrestrial insects become important, especially toward the end of the month and during migratory flights of flying ants. When the trout become ultra-selective throw them a “candy bar”. That is, present them something entirely different than what they’re feeding on, but something they associate with food. The use of a terrestrial dry fly is an excellent strategy to exploit the trout’s conditioned response in this respect. |
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Recommended fly patterns for May: March Brown #10 |
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