Salmon Flies are so close we can taste it
Forget what your bro buddy has told you they are not here yet. Yes can a guy scour the bank in the channels and find a single salmon fly to photograph and put all over the inter-webs to start the frenzy and migration? Absolutely and that has happened. Real talk they are not here and are defenitally not flying around. This cold snap and snow we had the past few days has put a damper on the hatch and dropped the water temps. Flows are still good and the river is mostly clear but the big bugs have not made an apprearance as of yet.
What to fish if you are on the River Now
Even without the big bugs fishing is really good. Streamer fishing and guys following bobbers with rubber legs and caddis nymphs are getting bent all day. In fact there are tons of caddis of all sizes along the river right now. Those big ass bombers that are a size 10 right down to the micro caddis black bastards in a size 20. We were having some good caddis dry fly fishing right before this big storm. The water temps dropped and the fish went off the dry fly bite for the last day or so. Do not worry this will return in another day. Let the water temps bump up a few more degrees and let the fish have a few days of sun to look at and the caddis fishing will be back. We have been having best luck with a small royal chubby size 14 drifting along the banks. This will fool most caddis loving fish and be boyant to float.
Sub-surface Madness
For those who love to get down and dirty now is when you shine. We have been staying bent all day long with nymph rigs of stone fly and caddis. Streamer fishing has been really good as of late and some big fish have come to the net. We like olive streamers fished deep along the banks with a twitch. With the clearer than normal for this time of year water they want the streamer to look alive but are not ready to chase far. The twitch every two seconds is about the right speed. Follow this streamer with a caddis nymph and you will be in business. We have been staying with the rope for tippet. 2X is about as thin as I have run in the last month or so for the underwater destruction.
It is Starting to Get Busy
The summer crowds have arrived on the Madison River and this will only get more busy with the arrival of big bugs. Remember we are all out there for the same thing some solitude, to connect and maybe catch a fish or two. Grace is a great thing to have in the next few weeks. I know I am working on this as well.
When will Salmon Flies Show
This is the million dollar question right now. In face we get about 100 calls a day at the store asking the same question. Looking at the weather guessers it is looking like nice warm weather on the horizon for the next week. I am thinking Monday for full blown Salmon fly Madness in the Varney section. It might be sooner it might be later but this is as good a a guess as any.
Stop by the store for the latest and the best selection of salmon fly dries and nymphs . The real fun is about to start so get ready.
