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.