Flies for Rifle River in Michigan During Early July

I'll be fishing with a Michigan buddy on the Rifle River (Rifle River SRA near Rose City) the early part of July. Any suggestions on fly patterns for this river and season?

Depending on how early in July you may catch the end of the Hex hatch below the recreation area. Upstream farther the books I have mention terrestrials and small attractors for dries. It is supposed to be good streamer water.

# 8/10Phryganlidae ptilostomis AKA: Great Orange Sedge Caddis
#10/12 Isonychia sadleri AKA: Mahogany Dun Mayfly
Hex
Late Gray Drakes (#12) Adams works.
Always have some blue winged olives on hand
...and my all time favorite hatch...Trico's should be starting up.

I haven't fished the Rifle, ...only canoed it when I was a kid. These flies should be pretty standard for the area. Attractors like Para Patriots, and Royal Wulffs should pull up some fish. That river had current and I like to fish these patterns on or near the riffles.


I also carry a lot of caddis... X Caddis tied with hares ear body (literally the dark hair from the ear) deer hair wing, antron or zLon trailing shuck ,tied very sparse, in sizes #16-20. I often trim these flies while I'm fishing them. I think they work for not only caddis, and micro caddis, but also midges.

Thanks, rainbowchaser and Mato. I've been building up my supply of BWO. I'll try some Mahogany Duns. I saw a refernce to the Great Orange Sedge but can't find a (good) pattern.

A #12 orange Stimulator will work just fine.

Check the October Caddis - see Idaho Fish-Ins photos of bug and flies.

Try this hatch chart.
http://www.kyndoutdoors.com/fly-fish...ls.cfm?id=1769

BWO and caddis are always a good bet. Rifle is a good caddis river. Fish them in the film. Little early for hoppers and greenies but watch for them. If there are hoppers, fish one with a mysis shrimp dropper.

There is good access all through the park. There is a small parking spot and river access at the south end of the park too accessable from the road outside (you don't have to drive clear through the park to get to it).

Bob