What Hatches to Expect

I’ve been on the Big Island of Hawaii and will head home this week. It has been a while since I fly fished and decided to look at pictures I took of insects over the past three years to prepare myself for what hatches to expect when I return.

What I found were lots of Mayflies, but a few Caddis and a small Stonefly were in the mix as well.

Below are a male and female Baetis. Notice the bright eyes of the male.

My favorite dry fly pattern is a Sparkle Dun. I tie it in a variety of sizes and colors, including a olive biot body to imitate the upside down fly shown above. Yes, it’s simple but so effective.

I also carry my RiverKeeper Soft Hackle Cripple, again in a variety of colors.

I’ll check my fly boxes to make sure I have the body colors I need.

Those flies work for me. You might carry parachute flies to imitate these insects. Nothing wrong with that, I just prefer the two styles shown above.

Here are three images of Caddis I’ve seen along the river at this time of year. From left to right…Silver Striped Sedge and a couple typical Caddis you’ll find in a variety of colors.

I need to tie a couple slim #10 Clark’s Stone to imitate the Silver Striped Sedge.

The other two Caddis could be imitated using either a standard Elk Hair Caddis, X Caddis, or an Improved F Fly. Just have a couple different body colors and you’ll be set.

The next image is about a size 16 brown Stonefly. I’ll see these in different colors, namely olive, and fly fishers will think these are Caddis as they skitter across the surface of the water.

I found the best fly pattern for me if the Improved F Fly shown above. I’ll tie a couple with a darker body to imitate this brown natural.

And the first Green Drake of the season two years agon on April 22. I was quite surprised to find this Mayfly because it was a month earlier than we normally begin seeing them.

We didn’t see another for quite a while, but I’m always excited when I see the first one. I know it won’t be long until the others begin to hatch, but it’s way too early for a fish to rise for one of them. In my experience, they need to see quite a few before they begin rising for this natural.

Now I know what to expect when I arrive at the river.

Enjoy…go fish!