Salomone: Bugs are getting bigger
As water warms, the anglers who choose larger flies reap the rewards
Michael Salomone/Courtesy photo
The lower Eagle River water is off color. It is not quite muddy but more than milky — depending on what stretch of river you fish. Wolcott is where color begins to affect the Eagle River. Depending on the weather, recent temperatures and time of day, the turbidity changes. Insect activity has increased along with the size of the bugs. In order to keep up with the emerging insect presence, it is time for anglers to go bigger with their bugs.
Flies do not need to be the largest selection in your box, but the bugs are growing. Insects’ activity is increasing with the growth brought on by spring warmth. Mid-morning water temperatures will increase, spurring along new food sources that trout eagerly anticipate.
The Eagle River is a freestone watershed that takes time in the morning to wake up and stretch. The river needs a little time to start producing. Small midge nymphs work, but increasing the size of your nymphs gathers the appropriate attention. Whereas we were fishing teeny midge nymphs just a few weeks ago, now the midges are of a different class: bigger bodies, more noticeable wings and thus, a larger target in the water.
Quick observation informs anglers that these are the big guys. Spring midges are larger than the winter thin midges. Pupa patterns become more attractive, easier to see and present a slightly bigger bite of food.
The giant midges are easy to spot crawling around where riverbank snow and ice have not disappeared. As such, nymphs need to be larger to mimic the real midge nymphs. A minuscule midge nymph will not hold the same attraction as a size 16 bead head bug. Morning action moves along quite quickly. Emerger midge patterns will produce more fish keyed into the food source.
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Soft water edges are the target for early-morning midge activity. Trout will key in on midge nymphs in red, black and olive. Midge nymphs with a slightly larger head and body entice active trout to feed.
Baetis are the early spring mayflies that really get fish in the feeding mood. When the thin, little nymphs start to move or are dislodged by heavier water currents fish follow to intercept the drifting morsels. This bug gives anglers the opportunity to work swift water effectively for the first time this year.
Switch up flies to small Baetis nymphs as the river warms during the morning. Thin, streamlined nymphs with olive green in the body work in water that holds moderate clarity. A thin-bodied, pheasant tail nymph holds more presence and draws more response in off-colored or murky water.
Trout will move into the shallow riffles to pick off the Baetis nymphs. Weight adjustment is key to keeping the flies from snagging the bottom or on winter river debris not yet removed by highwater.
Stonefly nymphs are much larger than what anglers have been throwing for months. Stoneflies are feeling the water temperature change and starting to actively move. A black Pat’s Rubber Legs nymph in size 10 is the best imitation for right now. A black Kaufmann’s stonefly nymph, also in size 10, will catch fish, but there is something about the legs on a Pat’s that indicates a struggling bug trying to regain footing on rock or river bottom that trout can not resist.
Water color varies sometimes from day to day. Having more than one location can save an outing. Colored water can mask heavy tippets; 3X and 4X keep fish buttoned up during the fight.
Off-colored water allows anglers to wade closer to attain better drifts. Good positioning allows fly anglers to control the drift and work water more efficiently whether wading or in a boat. Any angler approaching the river with one place in mind needs to get out more and explore. Look at sections of the river where you have never been. Go see what there is.
Worms are absorbing water and looking bigger. They will lose stability, soon becoming a soft, distended mouthful tumbling along the river bottom. Dead worms don’t squirm but will still entice a bite. Without means of locomotion, worms pose an attractive offering as runoff waters increase.
As anglers embrace the river the winter days of only fishing midges are feeling far behind us. Warmth in the river water is making things transition as anticipated. Anglers who go bigger with their fly selection are reaping the rewards.
Michael Salomone has lived in the Eagle River valley since 1992. He started his professional guiding career in 2002 and currently guides for Vail Valley Anglers. He lives on the bank of the Eagle River with his wife, Lori, youngest daughter, Ella and a yellow Labrador named Poppy. His published writing has appeared in Southwest Fly Fishing, Fly Rod & Reel, Eastern Fly Fishing, On the Fly, FlyLords, the Pointing Dog Journal, Upland Almanac, TROUT, American Fly Fishing, USA Today Hunt & Fish and Fly Fisherman magazines.
