A JULY DAY ON THE SPRING CREEKS OF PARADISE VALLEY

Tom Travis - October 11, 2010

Sysadmin Note
Part two of a series Part one can be found here

Armstrong's, DePuy's, and Nelson's creeks.

JULY SPRING CREEK HATCHES

Insects	Sizes	Hatch Times
Midges Adults, Black	18-20	5PM to 8PM
Black & Gray	18-20	7AM to 10AM
Black & Olive	18-22	9AM to 2PM

(Chironomid species)

Notes: The Midge Pupa and Midge Larvae are available to the trout almost all of the time. One thing I can tell you, do not go to fish on Nelson’s Spring Creek without, both red and olive Midge Worms. The midge worms are important throughout the month of July. There many days in July when there midge emergences that are important to both the trout and the anglers. The key is observation. However, I will state that almost every morning during the month of July I can take Trout on Midge Imitations. However, please note that I have also used midges with success during the afternoon and during the evening hours.

Insects	Sizes	Hatch Times
Black & Olive	16-20	8AM to 11AM
Caddis Adults		2PM to 4PM

(Brachycentrus americanus)

Notes: The caddis imitations seem to work best in the riffle sections. This also a pattern that is often overlooked by the anglers, however, stomach samples over the years have proven that the trout seldom pass up a caddis pupa snack. Early on they are a true 16 in size, as the month progresses they drop to size 18. The pupa has a black and olive banded abdomen, with dark olive thorax and black legs. The adults have a bright olive/green body, with a thin black rib and black wings and normally can be found carry a little sign that says “EAT ME, I TASTE GOOD”!

The #1 hatch in July is: Pale Morning Dun  16-18

Insects	Sizes	Hatch Times
PMD (Ephemerella inermis)	18	10AM to 1PM
(Ephemerella infrequens)	16	10AM to 1PM

Notes: The smaller inermis is the most common, however on certain days there can be good hatch of the larger infrequens.
These are the normal hatching times; a hot weather cycle can push the start of the hatch to noon or even later. Also this can happen during a normal weather cycle, when a cool day shows up.

The nymphs, emergers, duns and spinner are all important to both the trout and to the angler. Make sure you are fully stocked with a good selection of the various PMD pattern types.

During the past few years, the PMD hatches have grown stronger and lasted much longer than ever before, with viable hatches going into early September.

The Sulphur Duns of Summer   18-22

Insects	Sizes	Hatch Times
Sulphur Duns	18-22	4PM to 6PM

Formerly known as (Centroptilum elsa)

For years the Sulphur Hatches were the curse of the anglers. These small insects are classed as member of the Baetis family and are very active and agile swimmers, and are very active during their emergences. Anglers have often thought that the rise forms resemble those of trout chasing emerging caddis. However, in 2005, the major sulphur hatches seem to disappear. Yet, we were still seeing clouds of Little Rusty Spinners in the morning hours. It has been theorized that the Sulphur hatches moved to night-time. In 2008, we had a normal weather cycle, without the extreme heat and some Sulphur hatches began to reappear. Nelson’s Spring Creek had the best and most reliable hatches during the month of July, with an occasional hatch appearing on the other creeks from time to time. The best place on Armstrong’s to look is above the bridge. On DePuy’s the best Sulphur hatches have been found at the Head of the House Pond and on the lower end below the Breech Dam. If we are now out of the drought cycle that plagued us for so many years, I think the great Sulphur hatches will return to once again complicate our fishing.

Minor Mayflies of Summer

Insects	Sizes	Hatch Times
Speckled Duns	16	11AM to 2PM

(Callibaetis americanus)

Notes: Callibaetis hatches occur at random times throughout July. Generally, they are not of major importance.  However, on all three spring creeks, I have, on occasion, had to use Callibaetis imitations and have taken trout on them.

Insects	Sizes	Hatch Times
Trico’s	20-22	9AM to 11AM

(Tricorythodes minutus)

Notes: Towards the end of July, the Trico’s begin to appear on the creeks. However, the only creek that I use Trico’s on is DePuy’s. These insect hatch throughout the night and finish up during dawn early light. It is the Trico Spinner, which is important to the angler. From the head of House Pond, down to the end of the creek, you can find Trico Spinner falls during late July.

Terrestrials

Insects	Sizes	Hatch Times
Black Ants	14-20	Available throughout July
Beetles	12-18
Crickets	10-14
Mice	6-10
Hoppers	10-14	Only available in late July
Leafhoppers	16-20	Only available in late July

Notes: Terrestrials are often used during the afternoons in mid to late July. However, I have often done very well with Ant imitations in the morning and Beetle imitations from 9:00 A.M. on. Crickets can be used anytime as a searching pattern. Generally, Hoppers and Leafhoppers don’t appear until late July. Mice, well Mice imitations are something special that I will discuss later. Please remember that wet imitations of these terrestrial types may also produce a nice trout or two.

Aquatic Insects of Interest

Insects	Sizes	Hatch Times
Leeches	4-14	Always available in July
Sowbugs	16
Damsel Nymphs	12-16
Scuds	14-18
Aquatic Earthworms	10-14
Crane Fly Larvae	8-14

Notes: There are also Stonefly Nymphs, Water Beetles, Water Boatmen, Snails and various other larvae found in the waters of the creeks. However, these normally don’t play a big part in the anglers’ strategies or plans.

Minnows

Insects	Sizes	Hatch Times
Sculpins	6-12	Always Available
Rainbow Trout Minnows	6-12
Brown Trout Minnows	6-12
Sucker Minnows	6-12
Whitefish Minnows	6-12
Carp Minnows	6-12

Notes: Minnows are always available to the trout on the creeks. These imitations are normally only used by a few and then only during special times or under special situations.

One final note before I begin to cover fishing the spring creeks during a July day. I will be covering a time period from early morning until very late in the evening. Not that I expect everyone to spend that much time fishing the creeks on a daily basis. I will however, be covering what you might encounter if you choose to spend a full day on the creeks. Furthermore, I will be covering some special situations which you may or may not encounter. But these situations can be experienced.

Sysadmin Note
Part three can be found here.

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