Salmonfly Hatch and Temperatures
Josh -
Not sure of the temperature range that is most conducive to this hatch, but anecdotally, from this neck of the woods, water temperature is definitely a factor. Consider the following.
The salmonfly hatch on the Henry's Fork is just about over.
The salmonfly hatch on the South Fork of the Snake won't get started for several weeks, sometime around July 4, traditionally.
The Henry's Fork runs warmer temps through the spring and early summer than the South Fork which accounts for the early hatch on Henry's Fork and much later salmonfly hatch on the South Fork.
Happened to have coffee just a couple days ago with one of the top guides in our area and he was commenting on this very subject, and confirmed the above.
Another tidbit about the effect of water temperature on the hatch, is that in most places this hatch moves upstream up to several miles a day. The point being that the water temps are typically higher downstream and increase incrementally on a daily basis as the overall weather patterns, length of daylight hours, and air temps improve / increase.
John
The fish are always right.