The weather turned here in Missoula, which means it was snowing like crazy, pretty much blizzard conditions, a few days ago, and today it’s in the 60’s and it might make 70 tomorrow. I’m sure we’ll have more rainy and possibly snowy days to come, but this gets me all jacked up about summer in the West and the hatches that come with it.
Was thinking about which ones I have to hit and this is the short list. I want to know which hatches, on which rivers, you feel are can’t-miss events. Should be fun sharing our opinions.
GT’s Picks
Caddis on the South Fork Boise, Idaho—This is a smokin’ good hatch that comes off late morning and pushes into the afternoon. When the fish are up and on them a simple Elk-Hair caddis draws takes on top. Swinging softhackles through the riffles prior to and during the hatch is a great experience, too. When this thing is on you might catch a dozen rainbows an hour while it lasts.
Tricos on Idaho’s Silver Creek and Montana’s Bitterroot River—Late July and August are Trico time on Silver Creek and there’s no better way to test your skills than throwing size 20 and 22 imitations for pods of rising rainbows and browns. If you do just that, throw a medium or soft-action rod because it takes 6X tippet to thread through the eye of such a diminutive eye of a hook. If you use a fast-action rod you’ll hear the ping as your tip pops on a take. On the Bitterroot you’ll find Tricos in mid to late September on though October. The lower river and it’s moderate flow bring those bugs into the whirlpools and along the foamlines. Sometimes the river looks alive with rising fish. Just make sure you pick out trout snouts or you’ll be losing patterns to whitefish spinning next to the boat as you try to release them.
Spruce Moths Wherever You Can Find Them—This August hatch comes off nicely some years and other times you can’t find one of these creatures. I like this hatch because it often occurs in the morning, just as the first rays of sun hit the slopes. You’ll find these hatches in and around stands of spruce and pine trees and when it comes off good the fish go crazy. I’ve landed 60 fish on dries in a half day on Montana’s Big Hole River when this hatch is in full swing. I’ve also had great days on Montana’s Madison and Gallatin Rivers when the moths drop. Western Montana’s Rock Creek used to have a great hatch of moths, too, but I’m not sure where that stands these days. The fish? They aren’t picky when it comes to moths—you can throw an Elk Hair Caddis or other caddis imitations and expect eager rises.
Callibaetis on Hebgen, Quake and Ennis lakes—I love spending time on lakes during summer when mornings are mostly calm and you can spot cruising fish and their rises from a distance. My favorite of the aforementioned trio of lakes is Ennis. Callibaetis are found there in June but especially in July and August. This isn’t easy fishing because the fish are picky and you have to use Cripples and other specific patterns to fool them, but when they eat they go nuts and those rainbows and browns can run to good size, up to 20 inches or more. You’ll need light tippet here, too, so throw a soft stick. something that has a medium or slow action and won’t break fish off on the take.
Salmonflies, anywhere anytime—Big bugs, big dries, big trout eating them. What’s not to like.
