Flies for Rifle River in Michigan During Early July

[billhouk]

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?

[rainbowchaser]

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.

[Mato Kuwapi]

# 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.

[billhouk]

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.

[Mato Kuwapi]

A #12 orange Stimulator will work just fine.

[LadyFisher]

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