Truckee CA.

[bigfly]

http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/ac260/Bigfly1/Stock/bigfly.jpg (http://s905.photobucket.com/user/Bigfly1/media/Stock/bigfly.jpg.html)
Photo by DA Dean

The spring trio
From left...sz. 20 BWO, sz 14-12 March Brown, and the first sz 14 PMD of the year.
Golden stones are out and about.
Cream Caddis in the PM.
Flows stable and clear.
Temps have dipped a bit to 55-56 deg.
Clouds could set off a hatch you'll never forget.
Bring a wind breaker, and a good drift....fish are rising.

Jim

[Dan LeCount]

Awesome mayfly shot Jim.

I randomly ran into a few PMDs (3 I think) almost a month ago the day before Fishmas eve when we had a warm trend. (a serious "what the hell" moment for me at the time) I also saw a couple skwalas yesterday. Bug cycles are funny. Not everyone shows up to the party on time it seems.

[Doug O]

Thanks for the post. Nice pic. It's great to hear from guides on the water. Today on the California side we ran into a light PMD hatch. March browns have been hatching all month on the Nevada side but yesterday we didn't see anything hatch. It was cold and very windy.

[bigfly]

Thanks Dan, but Frank got photo credit for that one. I was the ham-handed bug wrangler...
It may be that it is evolutionary insurance to spread hatches out over several times/seasons of year.
Or they could just be whimsical little suckers....
Doug, I like hearing how different things are "down there" as opposed to "up here.
Hard to cover all this water. And, I learned long ago not to report on water I haven't fished.

I'd try soft hackles and nymphs for more action. March browns and PMDs.....some BWOs.
There are Skwalla shucks around again........
Saw a largesz12-10 tan Caddis on the water for the first time.
During mid afternoon it seems to slow, under nuclear blue skies.
If a cloud goes over............heads up.
Finding a few molted cray.....
Feels like Green Drake Mayflies may pop anytime....or it could be two weeks.
Have some handy. Not just dries either, emergers too.
The menu is expanding daily.
And with all the beaver trimmings.....
Just bring lots of flies....and think out-side the box.
I heard the raft hatch is about to begin.....
Nice time of year, hope you're getting out.

Jim

[Rossflyguy]

I also saw the PMD's Saturday and Sunday. They were feeding on them Sunday.

[Dan LeCount]

Ran into a PMD hatch on the river today, caught a few of the nymphs hatching on my leg and they were almost totally jet black instead of the usual rusty cinnamon sort of color with dark wing pads.

[bigfly]

Ya Dan, the PMDs color change from dark burgundy (redish-black), to yellow before your eyes is a hoot.
The fish seem to enjoy them too....
Water temps are coming up to perfect, flows are perfect, weather is perfect......
Just have to get a perfect drift...

Jim

[bigfly]

A little cooler for a few days.
Little Yellow Sallies are going.
A sparse mix of PMDs, and Tricos.
Some Caddis, but no evening blizzard yet
Green Drakes are popping!
We never know exactly when they will do their thing.
I've seen them come off at high noon, and sunny, but mostly they like a kind of muggy/cloudy/evening thang..
If they pop, and you don't have a few in your box...you will be sorry!
Grass Hoppers are here, and flying....
The mid-day slow-down is in effect.
Rafting has started....get out early/stay late.
Be heads-up with the weather.
Bugs like clouds (especially green drakes.)

The sun is blazing, bring a hat/sunscreen, and drink lots of water..
Water temps are steadily rising. 62+ deg in the morning.
Should cool slightly next few days..
Hope you're getting out.

Jim