Nice report Swimmy...Can't wait 'til the new boat.
Wha? Got a pic?Ever try a stimulated with schlappen and small lead eyes? Too easy!
Once on the Madison and once on the Deschutes for me.I have many, many times. I have been lucky enough to hit it perfectly two times in my life, both on the Madison River. It is Heaven.
We used to chase them every year on the Big Hole, but we caught the best fish on nymphs just ahead of the hatch. One time there were some Honda Gold Wing enthusiasts pulled off the road; thinking they were in trouble, we turned around and went back to offer assistance. When I asked if everyone was ok, this was the first response: "What the hell kind of little birds were those we just drove through?"Who here has fished a salmon fly hatch?
I haven't. Hoping I can hit it this week!This morning we got up at daylight and headed to the river in hopes of timing this perfect. We had seen a bunch of nymphs on the banks a couple days ago and that usually means adults are close. This is about 10 days early but this year has been a weird water year.
It was nice and cool when we got to the river but the forecast was calling for 70 today. Plenty warm enough to activate the hatch.
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Kicking over rocks there were nymphs all over the bank. As we floated further downstream we anticipated seeing shucks and hoped to see adults.
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I decided to start off nymphing with a double stonefly rig. I picked up a couple early on including this beauty of a rainbow.
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Dave also got into a couple on the Bitch Creek.
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As the morning went on, the fishing actually slowed down. We also never got out of the cloud cover and temps stayed cool.And while we did see some shucks, there were no adults. We did fish dries but not even a look. We chalked it up to the cooler weather and a river that is dropping hard.
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Over the next week I will be blowing off all responsibilities and chasing this hatch. Tomorrow is going to be super windy but I'm going to head back Wed. When this thing is good, it is about as fun as you can have chasing trout.
Who here has fished a salmon fly hatch? Even better, who hasn't?
Fishing before or after the hatch is usually better fishing. See my tr from Saturday...Not sure about your rivers but it's always the best the few days before we see em in the bushes. Doesn't take many for a trout to get full and picky.
Ever try a stimulated with schlappen and small lead eyes? Too easy!
Yep, as I told another member via pm who is also heading this way today your timing could not be more perfect.I haven't. Hoping I can hit it this week!
The stars have to align perfect to have good fishing during this hatch. It can actaully be very frustrating.Have never quite hit this hatch just right.