RHITHROGENA…Puzzle, Part 1…

So here are the first “Big ‘Uns” of the Spring, in terms of Mayflies…Through the years, I have used several soft hackle patterns to entice Trout when this hatch occurs. I am discovering that there is much more to this tenacious little clinger than I ever suspected…This hatch begins before Spring runoff on many streams and rivers, when flows are low and waters are usually in good condition. According to Rick Hafele and Dave Hughes, ” Rhithrogena have largely disappeared as fishable hatches in the Eastern U.S. and Eastern Canada. Nymphs of this genus demand unpolluted waters. It is a warning of what is possible in the West.” (Western Mayfly Hatches)

A box of soft hackles,including some other critters and three March Brown imitations, that I have used for a very long time…

Rhithrogena morrisoni, the Western March Brown,begins to hatch in early February after a mild winter.In colder weather, the beginning of the hatch may be delayed until March or even early April. In my experience, I usually see them in late March and then late April and early May…progressing through higher elevations in the Eastern Sierra Nevada drainages.

They are clinger May Flies and found in faster water,hiding under stones and in the crevices between stones, avoiding the main force of the water. Due to their ability to hold tightly in the fastest currents, they seldom become dislodged. They become vulnerable in the morning or evening and on overcast days when they move to the tops of stones to feed. According to Hafele and Hughes, “several weeks prior to hatching, R. morrisoni migrates to slower areas above, below, or to the edges of fast water habitat.” This migratory, pre-hatch activity makes for a good time to fish a nymph imitation. It is interesting to note that in their book, Hafele and Hughes list exactly two nymph patterns : a Pheasant Tail and the Knopp/Cormier, Western March Brown Nymph #12 – #16…

This is where it gets fascinating: “Some Rhithrogena escape from the nymph shuck inches beneath the surface, and the vulnerable dun rises the rest of the way to the top, buoyed by gases trapped in the folds of the wings.”

Do a GOOGLE IMAGE search and discover just how many patterns mimic that activity…and, I mean the transition zone between the bottom of the water column to just under the surface…

Here are three that I have used for a very long time:

MARCH BROWN SOFT HACKLE # 1

HOOK: TMC 3761, #12 -#16, Daiichi 1560 #12-#16, Mustad 3906b,#12-#16

THREAD: Uni 6/0 or 8/0 Orange, Wapsi ultra 70 denier, Orange

TAIL: (Optional) Dark brown Hackle fibers

ABDOMEN: Hare’s Ear #4, from the cheek

RIB: SM or x-sm gold wire

THORAX: Hare’s Ear #1, Dark from the ear

HACKLE: Brown Partridge

SOFT HACKLE # 2…

HOOK: TMC 3761, #12 -#16, Daiichi 1560 #12-#16, Mustad 3906b,#12-#16

THREAD: Uni 6/0 or 8/0 Orange, Wapsi ultra 70 denier, Orange

TAIL: (Optional) Pheasant tail fibers

ABDOMEN: Hare’s Ear # 3, from the crown

RIB: Gold Tinsel

HACKLE: Brown Partridge

SOFT HACKLE # 3…

HOOK: TMC 3761, #12 -#16, Daiichi 1560 #12-#16, Mustad 3906b,#12-#16

THREAD: Uni 6/0 or 8/0 Orange, Wapsi ultra 70 denier, Orange

TAIL: (Optional) Brown Partridge

ABDOMEN: 2 strands Rusty Brown Krystal Flash, 1 strand Black KF, twisted

RIB: SM or x-sm copper wire

BEAD: Black Brass, sized to hook

HACKLE: Brown Partridge

PT and Ally on the Madison River where March Brown # 2 works as a passable imitation of a Hydropsyche caddis later in the year…

…# 1 of FOUR…in progress…SHORT WINGED EMERGER – March Brown

# 2…March Brown, SHUCKED EMERGER

# 3…BATWING MARCH BROWN EMERGER…

# 4… R. Morrisoni and R. Hageni Emerger ( March Brown) heavily weighted – Knopp and Cormier..with an idea from Craig Matthews…

WARREN EMERGER MARCH BROWN…Snow Shoe Hare…Side view…

Front view,,,some of the other, above patterns  – work well off the bend of this guy…

Angelo will now be assisting in underwater entomology research and exploration….

NEXT: Rhithrogena…Puzzle, Part 2…a(dressing) the ZONE…

PT/TB