Salmonflies - (Pieronarcys californica)
Adults:
These large stoneflies do lay their eggs during the daytime as well as in the
evenings. This makes for some exciting dry fly fishing. Once you begin to observe
the large salmonflies depositing their eggs you should try imitating them. You can
cast the large imitations in the fast water of the runs and riffles and at some point
in time, the trout will begin to take them even if they get swept under by the
turbulent waters.When the trout sees the females depositing their eggs, their
wings are not necessarily folded down on their bodies. They may be fluttering just
above the surface to keep from falling in the water, or the fly may have fallen into
the water and the wings could be in a spent position. Some anglers prefer to use
a spent wing pattern of the adult.
Notice that if you look closely at the top of the adult salmonfly, you get an entirely
different view. It is much darker brown and the only salmon color is a small area
around the neck of the fly. When the salmonflies are hatching, you can always find
their shucks along the banks. This is true of any stonefly hatch. If you examine the
bushes along the banks of the stream you will most always be able to find the
adults. They live a relatively long time out of the water and are easy to spot due to
their large size. In fact, if the hatch is prolific the bushes will be loaded with the
large stoneflies. It makes you wonder just how many were eaten by trout trying to
get to the banks to hatch. If many of them made it safely, most likely many didn’t
make it; however, this can be a problem. The trout can become gorged feeding
on the huge nymphs. It may be some time later before the trout are interested in
eating the egg laying adults which are much more difficult for the trout to catch
than the nymphs.
The females usually don't start depositing their eggs until a few days after the
hatch first starts. Just because you see a large number of stoneflies in the bushes
and air, doesn't mean that imitating them will be effective. You also have to
consider the fact that the trout may be full of the stonefly nymphs and will not begin
to actively feed for a while. If you are seeing a lot of adult stoneflies and you are
not catching trout on dry fly imitations of them, most likely you are fishing a little
early in the process. Either move a few miles downstream where the hatch may
have started earlier or wait a day or two to try again. At some point in time the
trout will begin to take them.
Presentation:
The large dry fly imitations of the adults can be a little difficult to cast, especially in
wind which is usually blowing strongly. We suggest at least a 5 weight, medium
fast to fast tip rod of nine feet length. A 6 weight may be a better choice. We use
almost every cast in the book to present the fly -upstream, cross-stream and
downstream. If you see a trout take an egg layer or attempting to do so, it is of
course, a good idea to cast to it but most of the time you are blind casting.
Some angler try to impart some action to their fly. We don't because we usually
scare more trout than we fool. We think a dead drift is best even though you will
see the real ones fluttering over and even on the surface of the water. Unless we
see trout taking flies in a particular part of the stream, we make upstream and
slightly up and across cast along the banks of the stream. It is tempting to make
long cast but you will usually end up missing some fish if you cast too far. You'll
see some guys act as if they are in a casting contest rather than trying to catch a
fish. Stick to short to medium length cast and you will hook more trout. One thing
we don't need to explain is how to determine when you get a take. You'll find that
is the easiest part of it.
Adults:
These large stoneflies do lay their eggs during the daytime as well as in the
evenings. This makes for some exciting dry fly fishing. Once you begin to observe
the large salmonflies depositing their eggs you should try imitating them. You can
cast the large imitations in the fast water of the runs and riffles and at some point
in time, the trout will begin to take them even if they get swept under by the
turbulent waters.When the trout sees the females depositing their eggs, their
wings are not necessarily folded down on their bodies. They may be fluttering just
above the surface to keep from falling in the water, or the fly may have fallen into
the water and the wings could be in a spent position. Some anglers prefer to use
a spent wing pattern of the adult.
Notice that if you look closely at the top of the adult salmonfly, you get an entirely
different view. It is much darker brown and the only salmon color is a small area
around the neck of the fly. When the salmonflies are hatching, you can always find
their shucks along the banks. This is true of any stonefly hatch. If you examine the
bushes along the banks of the stream you will most always be able to find the
adults. They live a relatively long time out of the water and are easy to spot due to
their large size. In fact, if the hatch is prolific the bushes will be loaded with the
large stoneflies. It makes you wonder just how many were eaten by trout trying to
get to the banks to hatch. If many of them made it safely, most likely many didn’t
make it; however, this can be a problem. The trout can become gorged feeding
on the huge nymphs. It may be some time later before the trout are interested in
eating the egg laying adults which are much more difficult for the trout to catch
than the nymphs.
The females usually don't start depositing their eggs until a few days after the
hatch first starts. Just because you see a large number of stoneflies in the bushes
and air, doesn't mean that imitating them will be effective. You also have to
consider the fact that the trout may be full of the stonefly nymphs and will not begin
to actively feed for a while. If you are seeing a lot of adult stoneflies and you are
not catching trout on dry fly imitations of them, most likely you are fishing a little
early in the process. Either move a few miles downstream where the hatch may
have started earlier or wait a day or two to try again. At some point in time the
trout will begin to take them.
Presentation:
The large dry fly imitations of the adults can be a little difficult to cast, especially in
wind which is usually blowing strongly. We suggest at least a 5 weight, medium
fast to fast tip rod of nine feet length. A 6 weight may be a better choice. We use
almost every cast in the book to present the fly -upstream, cross-stream and
downstream. If you see a trout take an egg layer or attempting to do so, it is of
course, a good idea to cast to it but most of the time you are blind casting.
Some angler try to impart some action to their fly. We don't because we usually
scare more trout than we fool. We think a dead drift is best even though you will
see the real ones fluttering over and even on the surface of the water. Unless we
see trout taking flies in a particular part of the stream, we make upstream and
slightly up and across cast along the banks of the stream. It is tempting to make
long cast but you will usually end up missing some fish if you cast too far. You'll
see some guys act as if they are in a casting contest rather than trying to catch a
fish. Stick to short to medium length cast and you will hook more trout. One thing
we don't need to explain is how to determine when you get a take. You'll find that
is the easiest part of it.
Copyright 2008 James Marsh
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