Zach St. Amand has consistently been getting his clients into big fish lately, check out this recent client Rainbow Trout. Flows remains medium & perfect (257cfs in permanent Catch & Release/C&R), water temps are cool, the weather is very pleasant,(highs 70s, lows 50s), and Tricos are falling in the mornings. Life is good. FYI we currently have a big selection of used rods/reels, many are listed on the website, but some purposely are not, so stop by the store and take a peek. Please no phone inquiries for unlisted used rods/reels, they are for walk-in customers only, plus we are so busy we don't have time to run through all the used equipment in the store over the phone.
Recently arrived, the brand new Scott G rod (this replaces the G2). This is not the original G rod, but rather the new incarnation in this series using the latest graphite & high-tech construction. Louis that work here has been fishing a prototype of the new G in the 9' #4 version, and he feels it is one of the finest 9' #4's he has ever fished. FYI we also have the new Sage Spectrum series of reels here now, and they are impressive. We've also received tons of new fly tying materials in recent weeks, and a book order came in this week (plus we got in 2 BIG collections of used books, and most are up on the shelves now).
The Trico hatch (#22-26 ) is getting stronger, and are typically on the water in early to mid mornings. The spinners tend to fall at an air temp of about 68 degrees. They are as far up as Pipeline Pool & progressing upriver. The other hatches you might see are Needhami #24-26 & Summer/Winter Caddis #18-24 in the mornings, Isonychia #10-14 in the latter part of the day (5pm 'till dark), and small Blue Wing Olives (BWO's) #22-26 & Cahills/Summer Stenos #12-14 in the eves- stay until dark & beyond for the best evening dry fly action. There are still a few Sulfurs averaging #18 in Riverton ONLY (from about Hitchcock/Rt 20 bridge up to the dam), but that hatch is almost over.
Remember that Isonychia are a fast water bug, so look for hatching activity there. Nymphing is still mostly smaller flies in the #18-22 range, exceptions being Stoneflies #6-12 (brown, golden/yellow), Isonychia #10-14, and Caddis Pupa & Larva #14-18.
Ants, Beetles and Hoppers have been working well in the afternoons, when hatch activity is low. We are also starting to see some decent numbers of lying ants #22-24 in the afternoons on the more humid/warm days.
Summertime bugs are smaller on average, so when nymphing make sure to downsize your flies. #18-22 nymphs are often the key to success, with fly size more important then the exact pattern (although I prefer either a little flash or a fluorescent hot spot in my small nymphs). Some days small flies are the difference between struggling to hook trout versus catching a bunch. The two main exceptions would be Isonychia nymphs #10-14, and big Stonefly nymphs #6-12. Isos are typically active later in the day, say late afternoon through dusk. The evening Cahills are also bigger at #12-14, and can be nicely imitated with either a Fox Squirrel or Hare's Ear nymphs. The big Stonefly nymphs emerge by crawling out onto rocks overnight and in the early mornings, making early/mid mornings prime to fish their large imitations for larger trout. If you do have a big fly on, make sure you also have another pattern in your rig no bigger than a #18, it's more in line with what they are seeing this time of year.
Top Dry Flies: Tricos #22-26 (AM- spinners fall at 68 degrees air temp), Blue Wing Olives #22-26 (afternoons/eves), Needhami #22-26 (mornings, sometimes well into afternoons), Summer/Winter Caddis #18-24 (mornings in permanent C&R/TMA), Sulfurs #18 (Riverton only, hatch almost over), Cream Cahills/Light Cahills #12-14 (eves), Isonychia #10-14 (fast water, late afternoon thru eves), Beetles & Ants #14-18, Summer Dark Caddis #16-22, Tan Wing/Olive body Caddis #16-18, and an all Tan Caddis #16-18 . The best dry fly activity has generally been in the riffles and the upper end of pools including Pipeline, Roberts, Whittemore, People's Forest, Church Pool, Greenwoods and the Boneyard. Try also blind-fishing with attractors such as Mini Chernobyls #12-16, Monster Beetles #10, Stimulators #10-16 & Hippy Stompers #16-18.
Nymphing has typically been the most productive method from late morning through early evening (when the insect activity is sparsest) and is accounting for the lion's share of truly big fish, using patterns like Caddis Pupa #14-18 (tan, olive-green- Caddis pupa are especially active in the mornings), Antoine's Perdigons #16 (various colors), Attractor nymphs #14-18 (Frenchies #14-18, Egan's Red Dart #14-16, Rainbow Warrior #16-18, etc.), big Stoneflies #6-12 & Pat's Rubber Legs #8-10 (especially in the mornings), Quasimodo Pheasant Tails #12
-22, BWO nymphs #16-20, Isonychia #10-14 (mid afternoon thru eves), Fox Squirrel Nymphs #12-16, and Zebra Midges #16-22.