If you wonder why we often suggest hares ear and pheasant tail nymphs, and fish them ourselves right now, just turn over some instream boulders on your next trout trip. What do you see scurrying back toward the water?
http://www.troutnut.com/hatch/601/Mayfly-Maccaffertium-vicarium-March-Brown
That’s why his hares ear dropper was popular with the blueline bows.
Way back in my undergrad days at VA Tech, we studied these clinger mayflies in Dr. Voshell’s Aquatic Entomology class. Here in the Southeast, these bugs are growing and preparing for their eventual spring emergence.
Hint for next spring: their wing pads turn dark just prior to emergence. It’s a good indicator for the dries you’ll need in the coming days. As is this monthly hatch chart:
http://www.ngatu692.com/Hatch_Charts.html
On your next trip this month, start by turning some instream rocks and sifting through a few decaying leaf packs. What trout food do you see? Have you tied up or bought the right bugs now to “match the hatch” on your next fishing trip? Stock up soon!
You don’t have to know Latin to be a good trouter. Just match size, shape, color, and position in the water column to enhance your odds of trouting success. Or simply ask Wes!
Good luck from our UO gang during your winter nymphing season.
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