On the Fly: Are you ready for the hatch?

As we see the annual runoff begin to ebb in the coming week or two, the green drake mayflies will begin revving their engines and preparing for takeoff. Of all the prolific mayfly hatches we boast about, the drakes always take top billing. Smaller mayflies (blue winged olives) are coming off now through fall; pale morning dun mayflies should be seen in the coming weeks. But drakes get all the attention.

Green drake mayflies are gargantuan compared to their smaller cousins, usually in sizes 10 through 12. Like the majority of insect hatches, it all begins downvalley on the Colorado and lower Roaring Fork rivers. This is not a “banker’s hours” deal; we typically see them as the daylight begins to wane. Sometimes we see them midday, but you can usually bank on the early evening emergence. During late summer and early fall, we see the green drakes midday (instead of twilight) on the Fryingpan River.

How do you approach this hatch? It’s all about the preparation, for sure. The checklist includes your headlamp (with FRESH batteries), plenty of floatant and dry shake, plus some higher-visibility flies. Because the light is fading during the drake hatch, we fish flies we have a chance of seeing on the water. Don’t leave home without H and L Variants, Royal Wulffs, and white Wulffs — all in size 10 through 12. You’ll notice most of these patterns are tied with white calftail, body hair, or synthetic high-floating ingredients like polypropylene yarn. Other patterns that work (but are not considered “high-vis”) are Irresistible Adams, Stimulators, and Sparkleduns.

We haven’t heard reports of a drake hatch quite yet, but it will begin any night now. A lot of folks give up before the action even starts, so do yourself a favor, and stay out there until dark, and it pays to ask your local fly shop if they’ve heard reports of it starting up. On the flipside, if you’re out there at twilight and not seeing drakes, you should see some caddis egg-laying over the river during the same time frame.

Be safe out there, and enjoy the Zen-like experience!

This report is provided every week by Taylor Creek Fly Shops in Aspen and Basalt. Taylor Creek can be reached at 970-927-4374 or TaylorCreek.com.