Salmonfly hatch question

Bill Monroe · 05-19-2010, 12:43 PM

Has anyone heard about this?
Sent by a fly shop owner...Seems like a reasonable assumption though.

I think one thing that needs to be stressed/emphasized is that the Salmonfly hatch time period, starting in 2010 will begin a new-Normal. Fly Fisher's used to wait until Memorial Day to begin their own migration to fish the Hatch. Historically it took a few more weeks for the water temperature to reach the magic 54 degrees in which the Salmonflies are ready to hatch. With the new equipment in operation at Round Butte Dam, the mix of perfect water temperatures and current are helping the reintroduction of Salmon and Steelhead to the Deschutes River basin above the reservoir (historically the barrier for Salmon and Steelhead until now). Because of the need for the perfect current velocity and temperature that is critical to getting the smolts to migrate downstream and out to the ocean, this project is slightly warming the waters downstream in the Lower Deschutes earlier than what people are used to, so the Salmonfly hatch is going to happen earlier from here on out. I'm telling people to get used to the New-Normal and make plans accordingly. The fisheries biologist from this project told me this would happen 3 years ago, and now that the project is complete I can see he was absolutely correct.

The river is usually crowded with fly fisher's from all over the country coming to Central Oregon the first 2 weeks of June to hit the "hatch". There is going to be a lot of surprised people coming to the Deschutes next month only to find out they missed the Salmonfly Hatch. Those anglers will still find good fishing with smaller caddis and mayflies but everyone wants to fish the amazing Salmonfly hatch. Those anglers that can move spontaneously and come now or in the next 10 to 12 days will be rewarded with good to great fishing and a lot less pressure on the river.

nunyet · 05-19-2010, 01:38 PM

The best dry fly fishing occurs after the bugs have hatched , mated , and are in the process of eggs laying and dying. Through many years I have found the worst fishing to be as the nymphs are crawling out very heavily and the fish are stuffed or at best just eating the nymphs. During this time the few fish hooked will be so full of the nymphs that the bite dies. The fish do not get keyed on the adults until they are off the bushes and in the water.

Real warm weather will shorten the emergence to egg laying time . Cold weather will make it last much longer. Once the bugs have emerged it is up to outside temperatures not water temperature.

By the 10 of May we have always had dry fly salmon fly fishing below Shears Falls, and by the 15th of May dry salmon fly fly fishing from Dant down. Third week of May and the Drakes are out in the lower river.

It remains to be seen if the stretch between the dam and Trout Creek will be earlier than the normal swing caused by temperature. The best dry fly salmon fly fishing has always been till the middle of June or later in that stretch, for me.

If the new project at the dam is causing the rise in temperature, real trouble could be caused by lethal temperatures in the lower river in the heat and low flow of summer.

Information in this post worth what you payed for it

nunyet

freediver111 · 05-19-2010, 01:43 PM

Interesting theory, and I've heard some reports that this may be happening as we speak.
I don't know if this years weather has anything to do with an early hatch, but it's been a strange winter/spring for us here in Eastern Oregon with a warm dry winter and wet/cold spring.....It seems that lately I'm wondering when spring will arrive! They're calling for snow here on Friday......
I do know this: I'm going to be on the Deschutes Friday through Sunday, and I hope big bug action is great!

SandyEggs · 05-19-2010, 02:55 PM

I was at trout creek this past weekend and I can tell you that the salmon flys were out VERY thick!! 10+ on every tree branch and little bush. If you stand still within minutes you will have several crawling on you. The key is they were all on the land or air, not many of them were on the surface of the water unless they fell in. The fish were not taking a dry full size stone fly off the surface for the 4 days our group was there. Every fish(30+) was caught(and released) on nymphs and not always a stonefly nymph, bead head gold ribbed hares ear nymphs seemed to be the ticket..

clarkman23 · 05-19-2010, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SandyEggs

Every fish(30+) was caught(and released) on nymphs and not always a stonefly nymph, bead head gold ribbed hares ear nymphs seemed to be the ticket..

I had the same experience yesterday at Maupin. I brought one fish up on the surface and that was a back eddy fish working some midges. There are a bunch of PMDs and PEDs hatching on the overcast days right now, plus there are a bunch of yellow sallies out and about, so those PTs (14-18) and HEs (12-16) will definitely work quite nicely...although the majority of my fish came on my stone nymphs (so much so that I clipped off the dropper after a while)

Wild Chrome · 05-19-2010, 03:07 PM

I think it's true. Only time will tell how big of a difference we see. I'd be curious to know what temps the river's been running at this month and how it compares with average.

From PGE's web site:

Water temperature regulation
The tower�s draw of warmer water off the surface of Lake Billy Chinook will keep the reservoir cooler in the summer, creating a healthier environment for fish. The tower also has an intake near its bottom, so it can draw cold water during summer and fall to mix with warmer surface water. This will maintain appropriate downstream temperatures in the lower Deschutes River. The modified reservoir environment should provide an even better habitat for bull trout, kokanee and the rearing of juvenile sockeye salmon.

Bill Monroe · 05-19-2010, 03:10 PM

Hmm...
Wonder how it might affect summer steelhead? Will it get so warm they won't sidetrack out of the Columbia?

Wild Chrome · 05-19-2010, 03:33 PM

It sounds to me like PGE will be monitoring downstream temps and drawing water from the bottom of LBC when it gets hot. Also, Lake Simtustus should act as a temperature buffer. If anyone here has been in on the planning for summer flows, please chime in!

rosstucker32 · 05-19-2010, 03:38 PM

i'm no biologist and certainly not involved in the process, but it was my understanding that once the downstream migration season was over, they would resume the original bottom-realease, meaning during steelhead season it would be "business as usual".

SandyEggs · 05-19-2010, 03:39 PM

The water coming out of the dam shouldn't be any warmer this summer then last summer when all the tribs warm up to around the same temp as the lake.. but the water coming out of the dam will be warmer then the water of the tribs in winter/spring time like we are seeing now.. I could be wrong but I think thats how it should work..

I think it will always be cold enough to draw some out of the Columbia when you get into late July - August, but it could make dent in the number of summers that do come in compared to previous years. When fishing the mouth in the Columbia you could see a good 8-10 degree change, a 4-6 degree change may not be as appealing.

rob allen · 05-19-2010, 04:29 PM

I have fished the salmonfly hatch for 30 years and My following statement is more than a general rule I have found it to be true every single time.

If there are adults on the grass a large portion of the trout population will be taking dries. it doesn't matter if the adults are flying around. the fish feed on the nymphs and know that the adults are around. However you need to fish areas close to the bank and banks where the adults are easily accessible. Some days are better than others but if there are adults in the grass you can catch fish on dries. You do not need to wait until you see them flying around or until you see a fish rise to a natural.

to have the best fishing you HAVE!! to fish areas where the fish have been left alone. If they have recently been fished for you'll get some refusals but very few solid takes.

nunyet · 05-19-2010, 04:42 PM

Rob I hope your careful as you make your way along the bank to not step on any of the fish that are up in the bushes eating salmon flies and not step on any.

nunyet

SandyEggs · 05-19-2010, 05:20 PM

I dead drifted dries under trees also tried 1-2 feet off a bank full of flies in tall grass and they would take the nymph dropper over the dry on top every time.. and that was after the dry went untouched for 10 passes then fish take the nymph first pass... I don't doubt they will take adult dries on top but I think this early they just aren't as interested in them yet and still looking for the easy, familar nymph.

But I am still green and have a lot to learn. Just sharing my experience this last weekend.. and the pressure was VERY light.. say 3 or 4 guys fishing other then us all day other then boats..

Surfnsully · 05-19-2010, 06:17 PM

Great info shared here folks. Thanks. I hope to be hitting it this weekend and will share what I learn if I go.

clarkman23 · 05-19-2010, 09:09 PM

They're certainly going to take naturals floating down the river...but for me personally, I didn't feel like wading through the "jungle water" to get to those unmolested fish (been having problems with my sciatic nerve over the last couple of months). So, basically for me it was a nymphing game...sure was fun sight fishing a big stone nymph to a couple of those bruisers taking nymphs tight up to the bank in a couple feet of water though. Either way, it's fun & that's what I prefer to have out there...fun.

I'll most likely be back out tomorrow...with all of the overcast weather, should see some PMD & PED hatches going on.

flyjunky · 05-20-2010, 06:55 AM

From what I understand the steelhead fishing on the Deschutes will, hopefully, benefit from the project in LBC. Supposedly the water temp in the Deschutes will be warmer in the spring (what we're seeing now) and later in the summer the water temp will be cooler. With that cooler water it should bring more steelhead in from the columbia.

Herm · 05-20-2010, 12:48 PM

anyone seeing bugs yet?

mcslider1 · 05-20-2010, 02:46 PM

Bring a beany and a jacket. Supposed to snow maybe. What's that monkey wrench do to the bite?

LunkerFish · 05-20-2010, 04:21 PM

I'm here to tell you all that the Deschutes no longer holds any fish and the bugs are all gone... so you can all stay home. Truth.

rob allen · 05-20-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SandyEggs

I dead drifted dries under trees also tried 1-2 feet off a bank full of flies in tall grass and they would take the nymph dropper over the dry on top every time.. and that was after the dry went untouched for 10 passes then fish take the nymph first pass... I don't doubt they will take adult dries on top but I think this early they just aren't as interested in them yet and still looking for the easy, familar nymph.

But I am still green and have a lot to learn. Just sharing my experience this last weekend.. and the pressure was VERY light.. say 3 or 4 guys fishing other then us all day other then boats..

I fished Monday and rose ohh 20 -25 fish all on big dries a friend floated Monday and Tuesday with similar results.

having goo dry fly fishing during non hatch situations always requires covering lots of water fishing fast and efficient.

SandyEggs · 05-20-2010, 08:17 PM

Awesome tip! I guess I just need to work on my presentation..

Thanks man!

king flosser · 05-26-2010, 05:51 PM

I have a tripped planned to mecca flat june 14-18. will it be too late to dry fish the big bugs and score??