Spring apple blossoms signal the start of the Caddis and Blue Wing Olive hatches. These are followed by Sulphurs with the March Browns and Grey Foxes in close pursuit. With all of these hatches, some exciting fishing can be had.

The timing of the hatch is very important - your presence at the proper time is essential. In mid -May, the Olive hatches occur in the morning and early afternoon. Some Sulphurs may also be present at this time, so try fishing emergers during the early part of the hatch.

Grey Foxes and March Browns tend to be sporadic and usually occur in the early afternoon. Have patience and watch for fish feeding near the stream banks. It's best to position yourself in midstream, casting up and across to feeding fish. Also, keep an eye out for the ever-present Caddis in the tail-outs of the pools.

In late afternoon the hatches can turn off, so take a break, or try nymphs in the riffles above and in the throats of pools. This should give you some interesting results.

As evening comes on, the Sulphurs and Caddis will return and stimulate the fish. Try fishing both Caddis and Sulphur emergers to the rise forms. Rise forms are distinctive and are easy to identify: a trout will take a Caddis with a slashing rise and a renowned splash; and take a Sulpher with a gentle sip, forming a ring. If the fish are taking duns on the surface, switch to a dry fly.

As the sun is dropping in the West, watch for the spinner fall. Look overhead and in the treetops for the dancing bugs headed upstream to the riffs to mate. As soon as the spinners mate, the males will drop on the water first and then the females will lay eggs, die and float downstream for the waiting trout. Spinner falls will bring lots of fish boiling up to the surface. They only last for about an hour and go on into the dark, and each spinner fall will be a few minutes later each evening.

In June, the late evening Sulphur hatches can bring up large fish. This hatch can be very frustrating however, as the fish will switch back and forth between the spinners and the duns. Pay attention, and look at the rising fish to determine what form they are feeding on.

From mid-June and into early July, the upper Genesee river has a late evening hatch of Cream Variant or Golden Drakes. They hatch at dusk in great numbers and can bring up all the fish in the river. This is a spectacular event!! This hatch has a spinner fall at the same time as the duns emerge, and is best fished with a size #12 dun and spinner.

Need help with the hatches? Do you have questions about fly size, leader selection or fly tying technique? We can answer your questions and supply all of your needs, so stop at our shop for advice.

Also ask about our evening hatch special guide trip: One guide for two persons from 5:30 PM until dark -- $200.00. This is a perfect way to get acquainted with these great hatches and to learn how to fish them. We can show you when, where and how - so call us today to book a trip. call 585-352-4775 or carl@colemansflyshop.com

Tight Lines!

The guides at Coleman's