It is FULLY ON

The stonefly hatch is fully happening here in the Maupin area. The heaviest bug activity is currently centered around Maupin, although I have gotten a couple reports of the big bugs in the bushes as far upstream as South Junction - but they are not in large numbers that far up the river (yet).

I went out on Wednesday morning early and found the bushes loaded with bugs and saw random slurping BIG trout tight to the banks and under the trees. It is warm and a touch muggy out here - the ideal conditions for great dry fly fishing. 

If I could tell you one thing about fishing the salmon fly/stonefly hatch is would be this:

YOU SHOULD NOT WAIT TO SEE FISH RISING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT TO FISH A DRY FLY. 

This “hatch” is not like a caddies or mayfly hatch. The fish will not be feeding on the surface with any consistency or in any regular pattern because these insects are not actually emerging from the bottom of the river and rising to the surface. Stoneflies do not pupate. They crawl, as nymphs, to the edge of the river, and then they crawl out of the river at night (mostly). They do their hatching on the grass and shrubs and trees that line the river’s edge. 

Stoneflies, in the early days of the hatch, are only available to trout when they make a mistake crawling in the riverside vegetation and they fall into the water. When they hit the water, the trout that has staged himself in the deep water under or slightly downstream of an overhanging tree or a heavy grass line will be ready to slurp. If you happen to position yourself in those places along the river, and you are quiet and patient, you can see this happen. If you are able to cast a big chunky dry stonefly pattern under one of these trees - accurately casting the fly upstream and under the branches - you can make this action happen. The slurp will be on YOUR fly.

Cover a lot of water. Look for places that are deep and rocky and jungly with a lot of trees/bushes/grass. If you are in the correct habitat, you will hook trout. If you are in ankle deep, easy to wade, sandy bottomed, flat water stretches with no foam or strong current, you will get skunked. It is that simple. 

I cannot write a super long report this morning because I am headed over the mountain to teach and present at the Sandy River Spey Clave. This event is being held all weekend at Oxbow Park and is free (other than park admission) for all. Please leave your dog at home, as the park does not allow dogs - even if they are staying in your vehicle. 

If you have a chance to fish this hatch, this weekend is going to be off the charts around the Maupin area. The water conditions are decent, the flows are good, and the weather is perfect for setting these bugs into motion. We may even see the golden stones start landing on the water to lay their eggs. Get your flies and get to the river!!

I will post more photos and give you more fishing info in my next report in a day or so. HAVE FUN!!