Posted on June 07 2024
With the possible exception of the UEB, and I'm not going over there to check, the Big Bug season is in the rear view mirror. It's been ten days since I've seen a green drake on the river, although I did see a brown drake on my porch screens Monday. What does this mean? Well, there are already fewer drift boats on the river, many of the guides have departed for Montana, Alaska and other destinations where they work the summer months. The number of fishermen on the river system is also decreasing. The big bug season lasts about six weeks and is always the busiest time of the year.
What happens next? The spring sulfurs will move up the tailwaters and if you find a hatch you will see rising fish. The spinner falls occur in the evening and also get the fish up. As long as the freestones stay below 70 degrees there will be fishing throughout the system. The forecast for the next week looks good in that respect. When the freestones get too warm to fish, those of us still fishing will all be in the UEB, the WB, and that portion of the BR that remains below 70 degrees. Early in July the summer sulfurs (Dorothea's) will start hatching in the coldest waters of both the UEB and the WB, at which time things get really crowded again as the hatches occur mid afternoon and are well attended.
The fishing - Many fishermen are easily discouraged when there aren't clouds of bugs and fish rising everywhere. To be sure many of the big browns will be switching to a fish diet, in fact, my fishing log shows that the percentage of big fish began dropping off in the last week of May. The fish are still there, they have to eat and if there aren't enough bugs they turn to eating other things. The easy days when everybody was catching big fish are over, but if you are on the water you will still get chances at big fish, just not as many.
Angler 119-thank you for your reports which I read regularly even though I live in Virginia and fish the freestones infrequently. The fishing group I am part of enjoyed our annual Catskills excursion May 30 – June 2 and did very well on the BK and Willow, but especially the BK. Whereas last year my winning fly was an iso parachute, this year it was a March Brown emerger (caught 19 fish the evening of June 2) as well as a green Drake with which I caught my best fish, a beautiful 17 inch brown on the morning of June 1.
One of the more perplexing outings was at Barnhart pool on the evening of May 31 where we encountered huge fish feasting on mystery flies in the deeper riffles and in spite of throwing everything in our fly box at them, they ignored us… Makes me want to go back next time and Try again.
Thanks again for your stories and advice.
Kirk S, Harrisonburg, Virginia
I had a great ISO hatch last year in barking dog around late June, when there were sulphurs in the afternoon. The next day, with similiar weather conditions, it was totally dead.
Jack
Angler119 – Thanks for the information. I appreciate your insights. Just a note, I did see a lot of ISO shucks on the rocks on the BK on Thursday. Don’t know if the hatch is starting or ending. I did not see any duns or spinners in late evening on the Willow. So probably ending?? Ed
The title of today’s post reminds me of the one hit wonder band Chilliwack…hope to get down in the next few weeks. Life has got me anchored in Syracuse for a bit but there is light on the horizon..I will post when I get down there..
The title of today’s post reminds me of the one hit wonder band Chilliwack…hope to get down in the next few weeks. Life has got me anchored in Syracuse for a bit but there is light on the horizon..I will post when I get down there..
Thanks A119 that’s good information!!! I can now take the big bugs out of my vest and put the smaller fly box in.
What are the bugs of choice now?