Show Time in May

Things are looking really good this year abet for lower than normal water but the hatches are going well and the fish eating. Same order as other years, still some Little Black Caddis, few Red Quill Spinners but the show revolves around March Browns and Grey Fox thru the day if the weather is cloudy and dreary, some show if the sun is out but not like the dark days. I love this time of year a Grey Fox or a March Brown emerger fished to rising fish will take them, look for the best fish to post up mid pool and to the sides of the pool- tail out hold a lot of fish provided there is cover to hid them, they tend to come out and eat well because of the safety of the nearby cover. Also at this time we begin to see Tan Caddis make their annual appearance (one of the longest hatches we have) a #14-16 Tan Iris or a CDC Bubble Back Caddis will work well. The Iris is a Blue Ribbon pattern that has worked well for years and is a very good one for flat water, the CDC Bubble Back Caddis is a Davey McFale pattern not the Bubble Back pattern by Rene Harrop (his is really a great pattern for slower water and not super active fish. Our hatches will at any time include our lovely Sulphurs both the larger and the smaller ones but do not be fooled when they start as the fish key in of Grey Fox spinners at the same time they begin to emerge, a complex problem best solved by just watching and not shot gun casting to every fish you see- pick one out a watch before you cast. By all means it is very important to go slow and take in what has been offered to you, close your eyes and listen to the birds and the sound of the water, total relaxing. Do not forget the crane flies at this time of year, they tend to vary in size from a #14 down to a #18 mostly cream or tan, a sparse spent winged pattern with a turn of grizzly will do the trick.
  We have all seen the explosive rises to caddis mid pool and if you want to try for them just put on a wet fly that imitates and emerging caddis and do the Lisering lift- but hold on the take can be very strong.
  I carry a pack along and leave it on the shore just in cast the no see um's get really bad or I need a different pattern that what I have in my vest. The Buzz Off or the new Exoffico product worn as a primary layer or on the outside works well to keep the biting insects away, keeps it's power up to 20 washings then it's done the job and needs to be retired.
  I will fish for a few more weeks then will take 8 weeks off to recover from a knee implant, can no longer stand the pain and hope the Trico's will provide a boost for my recovery.

Little Black Caddis

Well it is going on now, the little black caddis "Chimera", then a good amount of Grannom's followed by a nice emergence of Hendrickson's, with maybe a few Blue Quills thrown in for good measure. The fish in Big Fishing Creek key in on caddis in the mornings then just about lunch they take a break and rest up till the Hendrickson's start about 1-2:00 PM depending on the type of day we have, they take their time and eat slowly, a slight twitch will get them to eat just a little faster! If the hatches have been good thru the day look for a flurry a egg laying caddis and Hendrickson spinners in the evening. Just in case, have a few spent winged caddis in your box. a poly winged caddis tied with swept back 45 degree angle wings and dubbed over works well if they are on them, this does not happen every year or for that matter every day but make sure that is what they are eating. it can be frustrating to think then are on Red Quills when in fact they are eating spent caddis, just sit there and watch before you cast away. At some times you might encounter a small hatch of Blue Quills, they are 18-20 here and the rise form are slight and not aggressive, if they rise is splashy look for caddis and when you cast hit them on the head or just when it floats near the fish give it a slight twitch!
   Go if you can the water levels are falling and the temps are still cold enough not to accelerate the hatches, enjoy.

When thus shit ends all will be fine

OK so I am bitching about the rain because it seems we get too much at one time and not enough the other times. The North Branch of the Susquehanna River is reaching flood stage from Hallstead downstream and the West Branch is still making nice. Penns has been up then coming down and now up and coming up as I write this. This will come to pass and we can get back to fishing this early Spring season, oh it is really not that early.
  I would expect to see the Grannom's starting their annual migration to the shore any time, this usually consides with the blooming of the forsythia bush's, remember the bloom may not happen the same time as your back yard, it's still cold in the mountains. I just love this hatch on Fishing Creek because it is one of the first good hatches of the Spring, yes we have midges and olives but somehow this can get your blood going, also because the Hendrickson's usually follow in the afternoon. So just wait till this liquid falls and runs off then go fishing. I'm looking for a window of Tuesday or Wendsday of next week.