Fly Lines

The Salmonfly hatch leads to some of the very best fishing the Lower Deschutes has to offer. Anglers come from all over the world to fish this event.

The hatch is just now getting under way - the activity will continue in full force through late June.

Sadly, despite the awesome potential of this hatch, every year there are dozens of anglers who fish it and come away frustrated. As I float by I see folks fishing nymphs right in the middle of the best dry fly fishing of the year. They have obviously given up.

There are many reason why anglers become frustrated. Salmonfly is a notoriously streaky hatch. When good it is the type of fishing that life-time memories are made of, but when bad it is often so cold you can't buy a fish by any means.

Often folk listen to closely to the myths about the "head of the hatch." In fishing literature from Montana there is great discussions about this magic moment. Apparently on those rivers the prime fishing moment occurs right as the bugs are emerging from the water. Anglers spend days search up and down for this elusive point.

Here the game is different. I have fished the head of our hatch many times. It's not good fishing. Subsurface activity is poor because the Salmonfly nymphs have already migrated to shore. Dry flies don't work because the newly h

atched insects are not yet flying or moving; they have not become available to the fish. It takes a few days after emergence for the hatch to warm up.

Those who push to be on the river the moment the bugs show are usually not as successful as those who wait a bit. In my opinion the longer the hatch has been out the more the fish turn on to it. On the Deschutes the prime moment is at the end of the hatch just as the bugs begin to disappear.

Many anglers who believe in the head of the hatch myth mis-time their trips and arrive at the river a week or two ahead of the best fishing.

Weather is also a factor. Even though this is an element that can't be controlled, you can still manage it to you advantage. Since the Salmonfly hatch occurs during the heart of Oregon's unpredictable spring weather, you can expect that some days will be warm and sunny while other will be blowy and cold.

The best fishing is always on the bright sunny days. The warmth heats the bugs and makes them more active. To improve your chances of hitting one of these prime days, I think it is best to plan to fish for several days in a row. If you spend a little more time on the river your chances of hitting a good weather day increase dramatically.

Finally, to catch fish on Salmonflies you have to fish the right holding water. The bugs don't hatch all over the river. They are usually found in specific location along the bank; especially in the overhanging trees and grass.

In order to find a good Salmonfly fishing spot you need first locate a source of bugs - a grass bank or over-hanging tree line - and then look for holding water just down stream of the bugs.

Underwater boulders, drop-offs or an undercut bank are all excellent places for fish to hide. Where these two elements are together - bugs and holding water - you find fish.

For those who are new to the Salmonfly game, follow these simple rules to success: Time your trip to the hatch, be patient and wait for the bugs to get on the water and when the insects do become active, look for the prime holding lies.

It will only be a matter of time until you discover what Salmonfly mania is all about