Here they come!

The stone fly hatch is on now. Anglers in the Maupin area have seen the fish starting to look at their big, bushy dry flies. Both goldens and salmon flies are covering the rocks, trees, and shrubs that line guard the banks of the river. For the next 3 weeks, maybe slightly longer, dry fly fishing with a stimulator, Clark's stone, or any other stone fly imitation will produce exciting takes, and big fish.

The hatch is moving up river. I have already seen salmon flies crawling on the trees as far up as warmsprings. In the higher sections of the river, the fish are still more interested in the nymph migration. When I flipped rocks near the river banks, they were covered with nymphs nearly ready crawl out and molt.

Nymph fishing has been producing some great numbers of big fish. A stone fly nymph with a PT dropper, or other may fly emerger has been effective. Some caddis are beginning to hatch, and there are still good numbers of midges.

For the next month, fish will be looking to eat stone flies.