SWMBO gloat and some more pics of flies

Larry L wrote:


I also like Olives/"Baetis" a lot. It's the first and last hatch of the
year here in Colorado and lasts much longer than any other hatch, by
far. When the hatch first starts up, it takes the fish awhile to get
onto the dries. Once they do, the fish are easy at first but as the
hatch goes on over a number of weeks, the fish get tougher and tougher.
It's the only hatch that I feel I need to carry a range of different
flies here in CO.

I'm definitely no entomologist but I think there are a number of
different mayflies that are lumped into what fishermen call "Baetis" -
any little gray mayfly is a "Baetis". Here in Colorado, "Baetis" will
range in size from an 18 to a 24, body color will range from a creamy
pale olive to a dark gray, wings will vary in color from almost clear to
a slate gray.

I know this hatch/hatches better than any other because I've had much
more opportunity to fish it. Some of the things I learned:

The flies are smaller than they look on the water. Most people here in
CO fish them with an 18. I've seen few flies that are 18's most are 20's
and 22's.

On cloudy and inclement days, there are MANY more flies on the water
than on sunny ones.

Once the hatch has been going on for a week or more and the sky is
overcast, some of the best fish will move into very shallow water at the
head of pools to feed. It's very hard to distinguish their rise form
from a small fish but sometimes you can see them "push" water as they
move to feed. Little fish don't "push" much water. If you don't spook
them, these are very catchable fish. They're only there as long as the
hatch is strong and they're only there to feed.

As the hatch goes on, the fish get tougher and different fish key onto
different things. If I find a tough fish, first I'll go down in size. If
that doesn't work, I'll change the type of fly tie hackled, parachute, no
hackle or an emerger. The only time I bother with color is if the hatch
is particularly light or dark. Usually by the time I get to that point
the fish is put down.

My favorite fly for the hatch is a CDC comparadun with either a quill or
thread body, 3 spread filarabits? for a tail and a lightly dubbed
thorax. I also tie a sparse parachute with the same body and tail and a
standard hackle fly. For an emerger I either use an RS2 style fly with a
CDC wing or I just cut back the wing on one of the CDC dries. On this
hatch, I believe one of these flies in the right size will take almost
any surface feeding fish with a good presentation.

Willi

"Willi" wrote

I'm definitely no entomologist but I think there are a number of
different mayflies that are lumped into what fishermen call "Baetis" -

for sure, and there are actually a lot of baetis species, too ... even for
the entomologists

some places the fishermen seem to use "baetis" others "BWO" and others
"olives" ... I think all those places and names account for a lot of
different bugs with very similar characteristics ........ I've given up on
sorting out the true entomology, although, by nature, I'd like to be able to





My favorite fly for the hatch is a CDC comparadun with either a quill or
thread body, 3 spread filarabits? for a tail and a lightly dubbed
thorax.



Neither of my two favorites was in my photo, I should have looked harder G
.... one is very similar to what you describe, but might be called a CDC
Sparkle Dun ...I sometimes use a quill body, sometimes just dubbing and
thread. The other is a knock down dun, really a thorax tie with the
wing on one side instead of the top ... lightly hackled, v-clipped on bottom
.. A PT nymph, floated, is another "first choice" and as you and others
on roff have pointed out a RS2 is hard to beat ... my variations include
sparse zelon or a doubled strand of crystal flash for the tails, not, to be
honest, because of effectiveness, but because I have a bitch of a time tying
and splitting two microbibits in these small sizes.

I agree size is far more important than color, and one reason, imho, the RS2
is so strong is it's extra sparseness

Thanks for all the other info, chasing Colorado Olives remains on my 'hope
to someday" list

"Willi" wrote in message
...
Larry L wrote:


I also like Olives/"Baetis" a lot. It's the first and last hatch of the
year here in Colorado and lasts much longer than any other hatch, by
far. When the hatch first starts up, it takes the fish awhile to get
onto the dries. Once they do, the fish are easy at first but as the
hatch goes on over a number of weeks, the fish get tougher and tougher.
(stuff snipped)
Willi


Hi Willi,
Dang . . .ya just keep giving up the secrets. (grin)
Hope all is going well with you.
BestWishes,
DaveMohnsen
Denver