Summer fly fishing is what every angler dreams of. The lush green landscapes and blue skies mirror the cool and clear waters that trout inhabit. The summer sun warms the waters so you can ditch your waders and enjoy the cool temps of the river. Summer is the best season for fly fishing because hatches occur frequently during this time and although the waters may get crowded there are always plenty of places to fish.
The “hatch” unique to summer is the “terrestrial hatch”, grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, ants, etc. During a typical, summer day, they make their appearance during the warmest part of the day, after the morning bug hatches are well over. Although the trout will have moved to their holding lies in the bank undercuts, or under stream side trees and brush. Luckily this is where most terrestrials will enter the water.
Terrestrial flies are usually very easy to see on the surface and therefore need to be very buoyant. That’s where the fun of the foam fly comes into play. Foam flies are very versatile fly made with light-weight foam to increase buoyancy to make them float completely. They are less likely to sink, allowing you to twitch them in life-like movements. These patterns represent a big meal for a hungry trout. You will still want to use floatant to ensure that these flies stay suspended for longer periods but can be used in many summer fishing situations. Fishing a terrestrial pattern as a single fly, in tandem with another terrestrial, or with a nymph dropper can turn a slow day into one to remember.
The Bionic Ant is a great foam fly to have this time of the year!!
Tie up six foam flies and bring them to the June Chapter meeting. There will be two raffles!!