It has always surprised me as to how little orange is visible from underneath the bug compared to how much orange is used in many of the flies we tie.
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It has always surprised me as to how little orange is visible from underneath the bug compared to how much orange is used in many of the flies we tie.
Keep in mind, most Orange or Amber natural dubbing looks much more dull once wet.
I really believe location can make quite a diff in the shade of orange too.
When they were hatching in the weeds one summer at Riverside Campground, they were bright orange in their abdomens
My take is that, generally, Duck is right on the money.
But I also think that the coloration is directly related to how freshly hatched the insect is. The more freshly hatched, the more and brighter the color on the underside. The longer an individual adult salmonfly has been around, the less and duller color on the underside.
I've definitely seen this with the stonefly nymphs, especially the golden stones, which go from an almost entirely yellowish underside just after molting to a distinctly darker coloration between molts.
John
Fishing the Madison one July evening and a mayfly hatch really blooms, right before a hailstorm flattened pretty much everything (and everyone that didn't make it back to their cars). This was about the time when the Epeorus were starting up, although I hadn't heard much up to that point, so I put on what I usually use and got a few refusals and nothing else; dropped a size and got 1 hookup (popped off) and more refusals. In the mean time the fish are going off like someone dropped pellets in a hatchery race, with the hailstorm crawling up the valley. I finally got my hands on one of the bugs (gently) and found it to be about a #16 in a bright olive, almost apple green, something I had none of in a mayfly; did manage a fish on a green caddis and a flav parachute (a few of them were scattered through the hatch). Tried a few emergers, too, but the fish I could see feeding, and I could see a lot of fish feeding, seemed to be taking the duns so for the most part was a spectator not a participant. Stopped by Blue Ribbon the next morning and was told that it was the Epeorus (that was a new color to me; maybe because it was early in the season?), so I bought some bright green biots and tied up some duns in the parking lot before the hatch that evening. Of course I never saw those bugs again.
Regards,
Scott
A couple days ago, this guy thought the amount of orange on the FEB salmonfly was just right.
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...005_edited.jpg
John
... and some trouts have been selective against the salmonfly recently, opting for green drakes. :shock:
But not all of them.
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...008_edited.jpg
Curious to see how much longer the fishies will show interest.
John
Snowed in West Yellowstone!! Not salmonfly weather right now. Was 90 several days ago though
If they have made an appearance already, even a number of days ago, and if the fishies are not showing interest in any other particular food item, I'd opt for a salmonfly dry despite the unfavorable weather, Byron. Once the fishies start looking up for those big meals, there's a decent chance they'll take one if they are not being distracted by some other morsel.
Nothing to lose, and maybe a pleasant surprise.
John
P.S. It was in the low to mid 40's, overcast, damp, gray, chilly on the Lochsa today, and half a dozen cutts went for the FEB salmonfly. Of course, I only fish for nearsighted, colorblind, dumb, starving fish, so take that for what it is worth.
... fishing primarily the FEB Salmonfly. Had a fishy eat it on Lolo Creek a couple days ago, had eight hit yesterday in less than an hour on Rock Creek, and took over a dozen with it this afternoon on the Lochsa.
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...005_edited.jpg
But the golden stones are on the scene now, and shortly the salmonfly will start seeing limited, if any, time on the water.
Been a heck of a ride.
John