Quote Originally Posted by zaxaca View Post
I read an article in the past couple of years (tried unsuccessfully to Google it) about how changes in tailwater releases on the Arkansas River in Colorado had a tremendous negative impact on the infamous Mothers' Day caddis hatch. My recollection is that it was thought some early water releases (very cold water) had altered the hatch cycles of the caddis reducing the quality of the hatch. So, it was posited that the timing of the water temperature changes, rather then the flooding/rising water, had reduced the hatches. This made sense to me since the river deals with the spring runoff annually. Having fished the Mothers' Day hatch for years, the quality of the hatches has been reduced considerably since about 2006 or so. I've heard from others that it might be improving.
I was told, earlier this year, that the recent poorer quality of the Mother's Day caddis hatch on the Arkansas was due to the overall health of the river improving. Prior to about 2000, the river was more polluted with mine tailings and the water flows were not as carefully managed. This made problems for stoneflies and mayflies, but caddis could still thrive. Since the water quality has improved, stoneflies and mayflies are more plentiful and the caddis have some competition.

Ted