Trout’s first season on rivers is usually a mixture of opportunism, putting in the miles to be in the right place at the right time. The fish will feed at some point and hopefully the conditions are there for you to take advantage. At this time of year, March Browns and Large Dark Olives (LDOs) are the main source of fish food – Many of these insects are hatched in the faster water, moving up the water column where the fish to get rid of them. You can start the cooler part of the day fishing nymphs in shallow riffled water towards glides as fly activity increases and fish disperse. This is where your emergent and dry flies come into their own.
 |
| Rene Harro’s CDC Biot Thorax Dun |
Hatches:
It’s important to be aware of what’s hatching so you can tailor your tactics and make sure you have the right flies in your fly box. March Brown and LDO are synonymous with the new season and will be the most important patterns to have in your fly box.
Darryl Mooney from Partridge Hooks swears by Rene Harro’s CDC Biot Thorax Dun for early season LDO hatches, try one alongside Split Wing Duns, Jingler March Browns, Deer Hair Emergers and Olive Paraduns.
For nymphs, if it’s a day with a Y in it, you can’t go wrong with a Pheasant Tail or Hare’s Ear Nymph!
March Brown
This member of the mayfly family begins to hatch in the middle of the month, with duns leaving the water in short bursts within a few hours. These bursts are relatively short, the hatch can only be 20 minutes so you should have an imitation.
March Brown Flies have been used for early season trout since the 1600’s imitating including the March Brown (Rhithrogena germanica), the False March brown (Ecdyonurus venosus) and possibly even the Large Brook Dun (Ecdyonurus torrentis).
Hatches continue until mid-April, after which they will not be seen for the rest of the year so now is the time to start your early upwing imitations.
.jpg) |
| Large Dark Olive (Baetis Rhodani) |
Large Dark Olive
Of all the upwing species found in rivers, Large Dark Olives (Baetis Rhodani) are probably the most common and most predictable when it comes to hitting a hatch. Often referred to as a ‘stinky weather fly,’ they are also happiest thriving in dreary conditions.
Although March, April and early May see Large Dark Olives at their most prolific, a second brood can be expected in Autumn with September and October considered prime months.
Tactics are similar to March Browns, the fish will target ascending nymphs early, making subsurface tactics useful. However, LDO hatches tend to be denser and longer feeding activity is more frequent at the surface.
 |
| Success! |
Dry Flies
There is nothing like fishing a dry fly on a long tapered leader, the cast with great accuracy and fine presentation to a wild brown trout. Once you see a fish rising, get into a good position to make the cast, keep low, tread lightly and wait as long as you can before making your fish cast… Wait, what? Allow the fish to gain confidence and then make your first cast, this will definitely increase your chances of getting it on your fly.
 |
| Darryl Mooney – Partridge Hooks |
Darryl’s Tackle List:
Hunt for the Original Floatant and Sinkant HERE
Varivas Tapered Leaders HERE
Marryat LX Fly Rods HERE
