A Great Start to the "Winter" Season

After a two long months of continuously changing flows and consistently poor water clarity, the winter flow regime that started on November 15^th was the catalyst for the great fishing we had all been waiting for.  The first ten days of winter flows brought dense hatches of Blue Winged Olive mayflies and, in my opinion, the most consistent dry fly action in over a year.  Hopefully you were able to get out and enjoy the some of the fantastic fishing.   By Thanksgiving, the weather was almost too nice.  Lighter hatches and lots of anglers combined to make fishing a bit tough, though still productive at times. The current arctic weather system has put a temporary hold on the BWO hatch but they should resume hatching once the weather breaks.  If you are lucky enough to hit the river over the coming weeks when there is good cloud cover and moderate temperatures, you should really be in for a treat.  Mild weather and overcast skies seem to really get the BWOs popping and the fish are more willing to feed on the adults.  Top patterns for the BWO hatch include the Hi-Vis Parachute BWO, Thorax BWO and Parachute Adams when fish are rising; and the F.O.D., Barr’s BWO Emerger, Mercury Rs2 and WD40/50 when fishing the film on down to the bottom.

While the BWO hatch is always a welcome sight this time of year, the recent cold front has reinforced the importance of the mighty midge.  Midge may be small in stature but they big in numbers, and midge patterns have been the key to success during the current cold spell.  As we move into late December, the BWO hatch will surely fade and midge will become the dominate food source through February.   While size 16’s and 18’s will work some of the time, it has become increasingly important to fish patterns on the tailwater in the 20 – 24 size range.  Some top midge patterns include the Bling, True Blood, Top Secret, Ninja and New Moon midge when fishing subsurface. 

When chasing trout on top during a midge hatch there are three flies I often rely on.  They include the Sprout Midge which rests on the film with the body extending below the surface, the parachute midge, and the old but reliable Griffith’s gnat. However, fishing to trout when they are feeding on tiny adult midge can be about a frustrating as watching the Broncos give up a 24 point lead to the Patriots.  So when you see fish starting to nose up on the surface and you know there isn’t anything but midge hatching because it’s the middle of January and the expected high for the day is a balmy 22 degrees, you have a decision to make. You either A - ignore them completely and continue nymph fishing, OR you choose option B, and switch over to the longest and lightest leader and tippet you have and ready yourself for battle.  Most sane people will choose option A and continue catching fish subsurface, ending the day happy and content to have brought so many fish to hand in the middle of winter.  For the rest of us, the day will likely finish with a series of last second rejections, interspersed with a few takes here and there, which we often blow by setting the hook too quick.  On a good day we may fool a handful of small to mid-sized fish but often leave the water asking ourselves “What could I have done differently????” However, there is the possibility of having one of those magical days where you do everything right.  You choose the right fly, get into position without putting the fish down, make the perfect cast… see the head of a big fish break the surface….and wait, wait, wait just a second before lifting the rod…and BINGO … FISH ON!  If things really go well, you will actually get the beast to the net, look it in the eye as you take the hook from its mouth, and marvel at what just transpired as it slowly swims back to its lie.  For whatever reason, I’m willing to endure a lot of rejection and disappointment in search of those magical moments….and I doubt I’m alone.  After all, fly fishing is highly contagious.

From everyone at the Drift, we hope you have a very magical Holiday Season and find plenty of time to get out and enjoy this awesome fishery.  Tight Lines!  

 PS – I spoke with Doug Krieger, the SE Aquatic Biologist with CPW, and he expects work to commence on the final stage of stream improvements in early January.  This will included modifying existing improvements and adding new ones on the stretch of water from Juniper Bridge on down to the “Tree Bend” which is about a ¼ mile upstream from the Valco Bridge.  Work should be finished by early February.