A feast for fish

By FRAN BETTERS, Focus on Fly-fishing

June 21, 2009 03:22 am

— Every year around mid-May, the hatches begin to come off the waters and provide a variety of protein-enriched food for the trout.

This year is no exception except the unusual turnout of the major hatches all seem to be coming during the same time span. One of the most awaited is the Hendricksons that emerge between May 5 and 10. This is normally followed a few days later by the March Brown with Olives and Caddis to follow.

What is so different this year is that all of these hatches are emerging around the same time. This not only provides an abundance of food for the fish, but at the same time sometimes makes it difficult for the fisherman to figure out what the fish are taking.

These past few days, there have been really good hatches on some sections of the stream while trout will be feeding on one of the other hatches elsewhere. The fishing has been exceptional with quite a few larger fish being caught.

Another factor that determines the good fishing is both the temperature and water level. The water levels have been high for periods of time but have settled down to more sustainable wading. One other factor is the higher water levels have also created the need to fish the larger patterns like the Coffin (spinner of the Green Drake) and the March Brown imitation, which is also a large fly.

At the same time, those fish in the quieter sections of the stream can be fished with Caddis and Olives that come off there — ideal conditions for the fly fishermen and women to get those trophy fish.

The trout season so far has given a slight advantage to the more experienced fly angler who has learned to fish the streams when water levels have been above normal.

My advice is to continue to fish the pockets and riffles with the larger patterns like the AuSable Wulff, the Ausable Bomber and patterns representing the larger insects. The Stimulator is another good example. Just pick your sections of the stream carefully and take advantage of the stream conditions.

Fran Betters is a fly-fishing and fly-tying legend on the West Branch of the Ausable River. He would like to hear from you. Contact him at awulff@whiteface.net.