I haven’t found much time on the water lately. Between family stuff, work stuff, and weather stuff it hasn’t just happened. Yesterday I had the privilege of guiding a fella on a few local streams. He proved a quick study and landed fish on two very technical waters, and in difficult conditions. All fish were average sizd except one beast of a brown that launched out of the water before snapping the line. The kind of fish that’ll haunt your dreams!
With mostly sunny skies, crystal clear flows, and little insect activity conditions mid summer can be tough.
Mostly sunny skies
To combat Sunny skies there are a few things the fisherman can do. First, dressing in brown or green can help you blend into your trouty surroundings. Fish early and late. Choosing a stream that flows through a forested/shaded valley helps. Stay low and/or wade. It is important to keep your shadow off the water and your profile out of the trouts field of vision. Approach from a distance and make loooooong casts. Fish will tremble at the sight of you and your fly rod so follow these tips to keep a low profile.
Crystal clear water
After light to moderate rainfalls the water becomes stained and the fish are more easily approachable. When flows are low and clear stealth remains important. See a pattern? A long leader (9ft) and long, light tippet are also important. I’ll go around three feet of tippet as low as 6x.
Insect activity
Most insect activity in summer occurs in the morning and in the evening. A few mayfly species, caddis, midges, and craneflies are the main fare. I’ve found that mid summer hatch activity is the hardest to decode and depends heavily on stream conditions. They also vary from stream to stream. Hoppers, beetles, inch worms, and other terrestrials start to come on strong this time of year. Nymphing with dry-dropper rigs is a good way to go. Any nymph pattern will do but if you choose to fish with an indicator it should be as small as you can go while still buoyant enough to float. In the most difficult conditions choose a really small nymph.
Be patient. If you feel like your hearding ’em up/down stream they’re seeing you before you’re seeing them. Some days conditions are in the fishes favor but with a sneaky approach, a long leader and long/light tippet, and the right fly you can cobble together a great day of fishing.
Whitewater Valley Flies 