07-28-2004, 04:36 PM
Paradise Valley Spring Creeks - July 24th, 2004
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=91,re"]Yellowstone Angler[/url]
FISHING: Good
Armstrong Spring Creek (O'Hair Ranch), Nelson's Spring Creek, DePuy's Spring Creek
The Pale Morning Dun hatch is still going strong on the Paradise Valley spring creeks, but hatches have slowed a bit in the last week or two. Regulars on the creeks are reporting more consistent hatches of PMDs than we have seen for several seasons.
Nymph fishing is very productive in the morning hours before the hatch starts. Good pattern choices include Pheasant Tails, Sawyer Style Pheasant Tails, George's Copper Drake Nymph, and a new pattern for us this season, the Olive Epoxy Biot Nymph, all in #16-18. Fish these under a PMD dry fly, a small foam or yarn indicator, or try sight fishing without an indicator if there is good spotting light.
The PMD hatch should start around 10:30-11:00 am. In the early stages of the hatch, try fishing a variety of PMD emergers, as you see fish rising to take mayflies in the film. Some of our favorites include René Harrop's Biot Body Cripples (in the Parachute, CDC or Hairwing versions), CDC Transitional Duns, and PMD Sprout Emergers. Once the fish start keying on duns, some of the best patterns include PMD No Hackles, Biot Sparkle Duns, Comparaduns, and CDC Biot Parachutes.
PMD spinner falls will provide good dry fly fishing early and late in the day. Expect to see spinners on the water in the morning and again in the evening, unless the wind stays up. The best spinner pattern is the Harrop Pale Olive Biot Spinner in #16 or 18. This represents the female spinner, but the fish see a lot of the male spinners, too, so a Rusty Spinner in #18 is also a good choice.
The Sulfur hatch is now at its peak, and will continue to provide dry fly action for several weeks. This hatch starts in late afternoon/early evening, usually starting around 4:30 or 5:00 pm. During this hatch, the fish really key on emergers, and don't eat many duns until late in the hatch. Some of the best emergers include the Parachute Sulfur Emerger, Hairwing Biot Body Cripple, Swimming Sulfur, and CDC Transitional Dun, all in #20-22. As the hatch winds down, the fish will pick off more duns, and at this point, a Sulfur No Hackle or Sulfur Comparadun will work very well.
Midge hatches will continue to provide some surface action on the spring creeks. There is usually some emergence in the morning and again late in the afternoon and early evening. If you see sipping rises in the morning, do some careful observation to see if the fish are eating PMD spinners or emerging midges.
During midge hatches, try fishing a variety of surface emergers like René Harrop's CDC Biot Midge Emergers and our Z-lon tailed CDC Midge Emerger. Midge larva and pupa patterns are also excellent, so be sure to have some of these in your box. The Miracle Nymph, Green Krystal Midge Larva, and any of the Lace or Epoxy Head Midge Larva patterns can be very effective.
With the return of warmer and brighter weather, small terrestrial patterns like ants and beetles will also be effective. Best sizes are #14-18. If the wind kicks up in the afternoon, try larger terrestrials like hoppers or crickets.
supplied by: [url "http://www.fisheyesoup.com/redir.php?recKey=91,re"]Yellowstone Angler[/url]
FISHING: Good
Armstrong Spring Creek (O'Hair Ranch), Nelson's Spring Creek, DePuy's Spring Creek
The Pale Morning Dun hatch is still going strong on the Paradise Valley spring creeks, but hatches have slowed a bit in the last week or two. Regulars on the creeks are reporting more consistent hatches of PMDs than we have seen for several seasons.
Nymph fishing is very productive in the morning hours before the hatch starts. Good pattern choices include Pheasant Tails, Sawyer Style Pheasant Tails, George's Copper Drake Nymph, and a new pattern for us this season, the Olive Epoxy Biot Nymph, all in #16-18. Fish these under a PMD dry fly, a small foam or yarn indicator, or try sight fishing without an indicator if there is good spotting light.
The PMD hatch should start around 10:30-11:00 am. In the early stages of the hatch, try fishing a variety of PMD emergers, as you see fish rising to take mayflies in the film. Some of our favorites include René Harrop's Biot Body Cripples (in the Parachute, CDC or Hairwing versions), CDC Transitional Duns, and PMD Sprout Emergers. Once the fish start keying on duns, some of the best patterns include PMD No Hackles, Biot Sparkle Duns, Comparaduns, and CDC Biot Parachutes.
PMD spinner falls will provide good dry fly fishing early and late in the day. Expect to see spinners on the water in the morning and again in the evening, unless the wind stays up. The best spinner pattern is the Harrop Pale Olive Biot Spinner in #16 or 18. This represents the female spinner, but the fish see a lot of the male spinners, too, so a Rusty Spinner in #18 is also a good choice.
The Sulfur hatch is now at its peak, and will continue to provide dry fly action for several weeks. This hatch starts in late afternoon/early evening, usually starting around 4:30 or 5:00 pm. During this hatch, the fish really key on emergers, and don't eat many duns until late in the hatch. Some of the best emergers include the Parachute Sulfur Emerger, Hairwing Biot Body Cripple, Swimming Sulfur, and CDC Transitional Dun, all in #20-22. As the hatch winds down, the fish will pick off more duns, and at this point, a Sulfur No Hackle or Sulfur Comparadun will work very well.
Midge hatches will continue to provide some surface action on the spring creeks. There is usually some emergence in the morning and again late in the afternoon and early evening. If you see sipping rises in the morning, do some careful observation to see if the fish are eating PMD spinners or emerging midges.
During midge hatches, try fishing a variety of surface emergers like René Harrop's CDC Biot Midge Emergers and our Z-lon tailed CDC Midge Emerger. Midge larva and pupa patterns are also excellent, so be sure to have some of these in your box. The Miracle Nymph, Green Krystal Midge Larva, and any of the Lace or Epoxy Head Midge Larva patterns can be very effective.
With the return of warmer and brighter weather, small terrestrial patterns like ants and beetles will also be effective. Best sizes are #14-18. If the wind kicks up in the afternoon, try larger terrestrials like hoppers or crickets.