Spring Bug Mix

Be prepared

Spring insect hatches on our local cutthroat fisheries can offer trout and anglers a wide array of possible insect opportunities. Early on in spring, the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe Rivers only have one or two insect hatches taking place, midges and bwo's for example. As you progress into late April however, opportunities for overlapping hatches of insects greatly increases.

This time of the year we can potentially see bwo's, skwalas, March browns (should be called April Tans in my opinion lol), grey drakes, western quills and even... on the rare occasion salmonflies. Oh and the every present midges. While this year's water temps are not conducive to salmonfly hatches yet (too cold), I have seen random salmonfly stones hatch in mid April and during lower / warmer Aprils we have had some very big hatches late April.

The moral of the post here is to be prepared. I know, I know you are probably thinking that I'm just trying to sell you more fly patterns. Yes, we do earn a living in selling flies, but we do like you to have successful fishing. If you are successful, we are successful. I can assure you though every March, April, and May my fly boxes will always have an assortment of those fly patterns mixed for the NF Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe Rivers, and others across Idaho and Montana. Because a good angler is prepared!