July 1 , 2016

July 1, 2016

Today I floated behind my trailer, from the bridge down to the Sign-In Wagon, before I recommended that float to Members. As I suspected, the huge rainstorm the afternoon before had an adverse impact on what has lately been a reliable hath of Blue Winged Olives. I saw just a few BWOs towards the end of the float and reports were the same from the field water. With this heat I would expect the BWO hatch to regain its dominant status.

However, the early morning flight of white Miller Caddis grows stronger every day. The lights of my trailer draw the White Miller inside if the screen door is even slightly ajar. I caught one Rainbow on a flying ant pattern that was on my leader from last session. I then switched to my #14 Pheasant Tail soft hackle and landed 8 more fish including an 18 inch Rainbow and a 16 inch Brown. Get down here early morning and swim a soft hackle under the hovering hordes of White Millers.

After the White Millers disappear you have to be very observant in order to figure out what is piquing the interest of fish out on the field water. There are a variety of possibilities these days, including BWOs, PMDs, Callibaetis and #16 dark winged caddis. I would also keep an eye out for the first Trico hatch of the season. The other day the damsels came out on the field water in earnest for the first time this season. The only bug I haven’t seen is a grasshopper!

The Pond continues to fish well if the wind lays down. It could be Callibaetis or Baetis hatching and the damsels are showing up with increasing frequency.

See you at the Members’ BBQ?

Doug Andres, Stream Keeper, Double R Ranch