10-05-2004, 02:28 PM
Paradise Valley Spring Creeks - October 4th, 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
Mild, bright weather has slowed hatches of midges and Baetis mayflies in the last week or so, but the Baetis should return in good numbers as soon as we see more consistent cloud cover.
The morning midge hatch that we see in mid-September has slowed, but ther will be intermittent hatches of midges through the fall, especially on cloudy days. When the fish are feeding on top, try a variety of CDC surface emergers like René Harrop's CDC Hanging Midge or Gray CDC Midge Emerger. Smaller sizes (#20-24) work best.
Midge larva patterns are always a good choice on the spring creeks, and they are one of the best options in the fall months when hatch activity is minimal. The Miracle Nymph, Green Krystal Midge Larva, and any of the Lace or Epoxy Head Midge Larva patterns can be very effective. Carrying a variety of colors is often more important than trying to match the color of a specific natural.
Look for good mid-day hatches of fall Baetis on cloudy days. Pheasant Tails, Sawyer Style Pheasant Tails, Thin Baetis Nymphs, and the new Olive Epoxy Biot Nymph (all in #18-20) are very effective prior to the hatch. You can fish these under a dry fly, but using a small foam or yarn indicator is probably the most efficient method.
Hatches of fall Baetis started with late September's cloudy weather, and we heard excellent reports from yesterday (9/19), as they will run though Ovctober and November. This bug is a little smaller and darker than the spring Baetis, so the best sizes are #20-22. Sparkle Duns, Biot Sparkle Duns, No Hackles, and CDC Thorax Duns are all good pattern choices during this hatch.
Fishing small terrestrial patterns like ants and beetles will be a very effective technique on bright days. Best sizes are #14-18.
If the weather gets really nasty, and wind and rain make it difficult to fish small dry flies and nymphs, fishing a small (#8-12) leech or Woolly Bugger may produce some big fish. Our Spring Creek Leech pattern is a great choice on dark days. Although this kind of fishing is not what brings most anglers to a spring creek, it can turn a difficult day into a very productive one.
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
Mild, bright weather has slowed hatches of midges and Baetis mayflies in the last week or so, but the Baetis should return in good numbers as soon as we see more consistent cloud cover.
The morning midge hatch that we see in mid-September has slowed, but ther will be intermittent hatches of midges through the fall, especially on cloudy days. When the fish are feeding on top, try a variety of CDC surface emergers like René Harrop's CDC Hanging Midge or Gray CDC Midge Emerger. Smaller sizes (#20-24) work best.
Midge larva patterns are always a good choice on the spring creeks, and they are one of the best options in the fall months when hatch activity is minimal. The Miracle Nymph, Green Krystal Midge Larva, and any of the Lace or Epoxy Head Midge Larva patterns can be very effective. Carrying a variety of colors is often more important than trying to match the color of a specific natural.
Look for good mid-day hatches of fall Baetis on cloudy days. Pheasant Tails, Sawyer Style Pheasant Tails, Thin Baetis Nymphs, and the new Olive Epoxy Biot Nymph (all in #18-20) are very effective prior to the hatch. You can fish these under a dry fly, but using a small foam or yarn indicator is probably the most efficient method.
Hatches of fall Baetis started with late September's cloudy weather, and we heard excellent reports from yesterday (9/19), as they will run though Ovctober and November. This bug is a little smaller and darker than the spring Baetis, so the best sizes are #20-22. Sparkle Duns, Biot Sparkle Duns, No Hackles, and CDC Thorax Duns are all good pattern choices during this hatch.
Fishing small terrestrial patterns like ants and beetles will be a very effective technique on bright days. Best sizes are #14-18.
If the weather gets really nasty, and wind and rain make it difficult to fish small dry flies and nymphs, fishing a small (#8-12) leech or Woolly Bugger may produce some big fish. Our Spring Creek Leech pattern is a great choice on dark days. Although this kind of fishing is not what brings most anglers to a spring creek, it can turn a difficult day into a very productive one.