Now that winter is more than half way through and finally started;And if your a little behind the eight ball in the fly department their is something you can really get into . And it could pay off. The idea is to find out what lives in your stream. I cant tell you how many times I've picked up a stick or moved a rock with my wading boot and 5 seconds later their happens to be a swirl in the water 15-20 feet later. Yes, I love to tie fluorescent pink woolly buggers.Or steelie blue stone's. But in low water and small delicate streams(especially limestone) nothing beats natural tone's. Eye appeal is everything to trout . They are without a doubt creatures of habit. They know their surroundings and the life cycle that has grown with them from day one as key for survival.
For a steelhead fry(before smolt) microinvertebrates are a staple in their lives from day one. Being the size of a fry,their really isn't many options in their world at this growing stage of their life. Zooplankton being another,but i doubt your tying that .
From their to smolt which happens after year 2 and around 6-10 inches(courtesy of steelhead life cycle) this still is the norm,with minnows and smaller fish as well now in the mix. So now,u have 2 years of natural surroundings instilled in their atmosphere and diet. To me, this is where the creature of habit comes from. If that's all u know, that's all u have.
Going to the river or stream if u really want to get into it and taking a seine net and simply turning over rocks and sticks you could find out a lot. Take a jar, or Tupperware container with u because what u find might convince you of what I'm talking about. From that point u can take pictures of your findings with your phone, log onto the Internet and quickly identify these 1/2 "to sometimes 4"inch microinvertebrates. Another option would be to type the name of your stream, and add "microinvertebrate biology findings of the EPA" into the Internet. You will really be surprised when you see what u find dwelling in the stream habitat.
Around the rocky river main branch unfortunately the water isn't to pristine.But surprisingly not that bad either.We in fact do have a mayfly hatch as a specimen is pictur
ed along with a golden stonefly. The stonefly is very intolerant to pollution,but we do have a few.
However, are most abundant being the helgrammite, caddis, scud and the snipe fly. As pictured below.
Matching colors spot on is ridiculous and nearly impossible. Size being number 1, and material being a close second.
Remember,most of these microinvertebrates are in the riffles, or faster pocket water. And with sun these bugs will hatch more often. And how these eggs get their to hatch into larva is even more interesting. And that would be where the wet dry fly comes in.
The wet dry fly is an adult fly ,female who flies into the stream , and lays her eggs. Its no accident that these eggs got their,and why a serious and observant fly tier does tie a wet dry fly at all. And adding a visual egg sack at the end of the flies tail might add a fish or two. As these females due just that. If you have ever seen a fly trapped in the surface film, chances are they dropping eggs at the stream bottom,and have been dislodged in that very film that exists on the stream surface. Thus, the rise of a fish.
Keep in mind that these hatches are far more occurring in water temps of cooler temperatures. Which is why spring is ideal for throwing flies. Do not discount autumn or early winter as well. Yes chucking eggs will catch you more fish without a doubt. But when eggs are over used and a take it or leave it option,flies can and have out fished the best egg presentations. Their is a reason thousands of books have been written on hatches from all over the world. And hatch stream charts are regularly used.
So keep in mind the next time your bored or really feeling that itch when fishing is on the down side,that their is more you can do than sit around and day dream. Or watch ill re-runs of cleveland sports tragedies..U might be suprised.
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