![[Alan & Salmon]](ahtmb.GIF)
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In early spring in Virginia's freestone streams, the surface activity is low, but the nymphs on the bottom are near their maximum size prior to hatching. For more successful fishing in Spring use the time honored Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear (GRHE) nymph, weighted, in sizes 16, 14, 12, and 10. Prior to the emergence of the first flies the nymphs are always active. This includes nymphs of flies about to hatch and those of many other flies which will hatch at later dates. I prefer to fish a #12 GRHE upstream with a dead drift on a relatively long and fine leader (keeps the fly line from spooking the fish). I use a small strike indicator. One needs to cast and drift the fly in a manner that gets the nymph all the way to the stream bottom. Nymphing in this manner is one of the most effective approaches to the preseason hatch puzzle. However, there are soon to be wonderful moments when a hatch is on, the trout fixate on a specific species, and this glorious time of spring brings truth to the dreams of winter. The below discussion is aimed at helping you on the first outing of the year to "match the hatch".
As the stream temperatures reach 49 degrees in the third or fourth week in March, one will begin to see hatches. Among these in Virginia's free stone streams are two important may flies: Epeorus Pleuralis and Paraleptophlebia adoptiva. (Latin names are used to assure clarity of identification). Actually there are many first cousins to P. adoptiva, but the imitations needed are identical and the differences among the naturals are of minor importance.
There is one stone fly of importance: Taeniopteryx spp..
Knowing the specific habits and characteristics of these three flies is essential to successful presentations. Each will be discussed separately.
The E. Pleuralis nymph is about 10 mm long and is well imitated by a GRHE in sizes 14 or 12. The natural is a clinger found under rocks and has a distinctly flattened body shape. Fairly positive identification can be made if the nymph has only two tails (most all others have 3) One may wish to add this flat feature to the nymph by flattening the underbody lead wraps and picking the fly sides. The picking adds a good imitation of the healthy gill structure of the nymph. In addition, the picked hairs add "life" to the fly which is always a good feature. E. Pleuralis has an unusual hatching habit, in that it sheds it nymphal shuck under water while attached to a rock. Then the emerger lets go and drifts with its slate gray wings still folded along the body as it makes its way to the surface. During this emergence, the Dark Mallard Quill wet fly or a lead-winged coachman wet fly are preferred imitations. When the hatch first begins these wet flies are more effective in taking fish than the dry fly because the emerging natural is available to the trout longer and relatively helpless. As soon as it reaches the surface, it breaks the film and is ready to fly away. Fish the wet fly imitation upstream, let it pass you, drift a while and then complete the presentation with a Leisenring lift to accurately imitate what happens to the real flies. It is during this lift that many strikes occur as the trout have focused on this habit as an identifier. When you see rises with bubbles, which are a positive indication the trout are breaking the surface film and taking the duns, then switch to the Quill Gordon classic dry fly using short, drag-free, dead drifts over sighted fish. Some folks like to use a no-hackle version of the imitation instead of a classic pattern.
P. adoptiva is a small fellow of only 6 - 8 mm in length. A size 16 nymph is good. This nymph is rather cylindrical and a sprawler with relatively weak legs (vs. the stronger clinger E. Pleuralis). This fly has a less pronounced gill structure than the E. Pleuralis and I like to imitate it with a "cleaner" fly. A Pheasant tail nymph in sizes 16 or maybe 18 is recommended. A Slate-Winged Mahogany Dun is the correct dry imitation, but I wouldn't bother with it. I have found the hatch of this fly is uncertain, not heavy, on again, off again, and does not often entice many trout to rise to the surface for it. I think one of the reasons I feel this hatch is less predictable is that the main hatch covers only a few days of the calendar and therefore am more likely on stream when the hatch is waxing or waning. I would fish the Pheasant tail nymphs in side eddies and protected pockets or frothy swirls below the larger rocks where these nymphs congregate. Remember, this is a rather weak nymph and seeks a bit more quiet water. The emergers rise quickly and then spend a long time getting airborne compared the E. Pleuralis. Recall that E. Pleuralis is better prepared when it gets to the surface having gotten rid of the shuck earlier. An alternative is to fish a properly sized brown wet fly across and down, swinging it through likely water. If you do see surface activity, rather than use a dry fly, use a nymph tied on dry fly hook designed to float in the film. This is the form the trout more often attacks because it knows the little critter is likely to be there a while. Nothing is more disconcerting to a trout than to have an insect fly away just before it inhales it. The body of the floating nymph should be light brown to tan in color. I like tightly wrapped rabbit fur as a dubbing as it traps air and helps the nymph to float, even when a bit wet.
T. spp. is about 10- 12 mm long and and is commonly called the Early Brown Stone Fly. Like most stone flies it crawls to the edge of the stream or a rock and sheds its shuck then flies off. Thus the emerger is not normally available to the trout. However, you will see the adults on the surface as they return to lay eggs the next day. The imitation on a 14 dry fly hook is easy to tie and is known by the common name. Darker nymphs or brown wet flies are the normal best imitation. If you see flashes of trout in mid depth or activity near the surface, use a drowned dry fly or a wet fly with a swinging imitation.
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Alan Hoover is a past president of the Virgina Capital Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and has taught public courses and given demos in fly fishing, fly casting and fly tying for some 20 years. He fly fishes mostly and also mostly for salmonids, but if it swims, Alan is game to try most any fish and method. |
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