Monday, March 3, 2014

Matching the Hatch with Pizazz

march brown fly
March Brown
a gaudy fly
A Gaudy Fly
It’s amazing what flies will work when fish are selective. One day I fished a mayfly hatch for over an hour without so much as a nibble. Good fish were still rising as I sat down to tie on another fly. I was close to giving up when an old timer sauntered up and asked, “How ya doing there young feller?”

Not very well, I’m sorry to say. I’ve got a perfect match for the March Brown but they’re refusing it. There must be too many naturals on the water.”

He looked at me with a glint in his eyes and said, “Son, fish can get downright choosy when they’re looking for the right groceries. Ya gott’a be innovative if ya know what I mean. Mind if I give’er a try?”

I nodded, but almost laughed when he tied on a huge fly with pink gaudy feathers, a scraggly purple body and pink rubber legs. It bore no resemblance to the naturals, and as he began to cast I knew that it would probably spook every fish, not to mention the water ouzels. On his first cast the fly hit the water with a loud splash and instantly an 18 incher grabbed it and went cartwheeling downriver. I was stunned. 

Then he looked at me and said, “Now son, that’s how ya match the hatch!” 

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