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Big Bug Season

Sean Visintainer - 05/06/21

Salmonfly stonefly fishing across the west starts as early is mid April and goes into July.

Steak dinner season

The time has come our old friends the salmonflies come out for a visit. Late April, early May marks the traditional time that these large stoneflies hatch on our local North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe Rivers.

Spring does bring big water, but with it big bugs. Timing can be a little tricky on the rivers. Rising too fast, well they may blow out. Too cold, possibly not much of a hatch. It's a bit of a crap shoot at times.

If you find yourself fortunate enough to be fishing this time of the year make sure to have some large foam flies in your box. A multitude of patterns can represent a salmonfly depending on the color and size from classics like the sofa pillow or stimulator, to newer age versions like the already iconic chubby chernobyl or variations like the Emma Stone as seen in the photo.

Even if there are no visible fish up feeding on the surface don't be afraid to toss a salmonfly into the pockets along the shoreline during this season. Trout are tuned into the hatch and it's worth a shot.

The window isn't long, but the flies are!


Rio's Emma Stone in the salmonfly variation..