Late Stonefly Hatch Tactics
I’m excited to get back to the regular structure of fishing reports instead of bringing you updates about muddy water and unusually large flows. This past week has been a lot of fun getting back on the water. With the flows stabilizing trout are getting happy and starting to settle into spots and feed with consistency.
River Conditions-
Flows are settling in at 5,680 cfs at the Moody gauge near the mouth of the Deschutes. Flows coming out of the Dam are currently at 4,350 cfs. These flows are a little higher than they were prior to the fluctuations early this May, but this is a pretty standard flow for this time of year. Turbidity of the river throughout the whole lower 100 miles is good with a slight tinge of green but not enough to negatively impact dry fly or dry dropper fishing. White River runoff has mellowed as the lower elevation snow melt peters out. White River is currently at 530 cfs and turbidity is not affecting the color of the Deschutes below the confluence. Water temps from the Dam are ranging between 54 and 56 degrees. Water temps at the mouth are ranging between 58 and 65 degrees.
What’s Happening-
Over the last week of guiding below Sherars Falls I have seen the stonefly numbers decline, but fish are still keying in on the egg-laying adults and drowned dry patterns. From the falls up there are more bugs in the bushes, which means more bugs but more pressure. Yellow Sallys are still out in fairly good numbers, meaning small size 16 stimulators and Micro Chubby patterns are doing well. Our Caddis hatches are starting to take off with clouds of them building in and above the bushes and trees in the afternoons. A dead caddis dry is a great option for a picky fish early in the morning. On days when the isolated storm cells move in, the Pale Morning Duns and Pale Evening Duns are coming out in decent numbers. As with all Mayfly hatches during this time of year you will need a bit of a rainstorm or barometric pressure change to help these critters hatch in good numbers. Nymphing and or dry dropper fishing with caddis pupa and of course the standard fare of pink bead pheasant tails and hares ears have been good on days when the fish aren’t as interested in the dries.
Late Stonefly Hatch Tactics-
Towards the end of the hatch a fair number of stones will be be laying eggs mid-river and get caught in seams and drowned. In conjunction with hitting your favorite trees and grass lines, don’t overlook larger riffles and boulder fields as a habitat for drowned egg laying adults. Normally we avoid bad mends and heavy current seams in the name of keeping our dries on top. During the late part of the hatch, it can really pay off to cast your dries into seams, or make a bad mend to force your fly subsurface. The fish that is hesitant to come to the surface can usually be tricked into eating your fly just a few feet below. Another good tactic for fishing later in the Hatch is to go smaller with your dries. By this time in the hatch I am consistently fishing size 10 to size 16 stones in a variety of colors. The fish that has been poked a time or two by a size 4 or 6 is usually a bit more likely to come up for the smaller patterns.
Flies that are working-
Clarks Stone Golden size 8 and 10
Clarks Stone Salmon Size 8 and 10
Henry’s Fork Foam Stone Size 10, 14, and 16
Hi Vis Micro Chubby in assorted colors Size 12, 14 and 16
Demoes Mill Creek Golden Size 8 and 10
Chubby Chernobyl in assorted colors Size 8, 10, and 12
CDC Bullet Head Caddis in Olive or Brown, Size 16 and 18
Finfetcher Caddis in Olive or Tan, Size 16 and 18
Elk Hair Caddis in Olive, Tan, or Brown Size 16 and 18
Galloup’s Tilt Wing PMD in Size 14, 16, and 18
CDC Comparadun PED in Size 12 and 14
Silver Bead Green Glo Brite Perdigon in Size 16 and 18
Silver Bead Blue Glo Brite Perdigon in Size 16 and 18
Silver Bead Roza’s Green Tag Jig Size 16
Pink Bead Tasmanian Devil Size 16
Pink Bead Pheasant Tail Size 16 and 18
Pink Bead Hares Ear Size 16 and 18
Copper Bead Olive Hares Ear Size 16 and 18
Copper Bead Quilldigon Size 16
Egan’s Frenchie Size 16 and 18
Thanks for tuning in. I think we are on the other side of the spring runoff season—knock-on-wood—but I’ll let you know if things turn for the worse again. I hope everyone gets out to enjoy this warm sunny weather and finds some trout in the process. Tight lines and happy fishing to all. I’ll see you on the river!
