I've found a small window of opportunity to make my first dry trout with this beautiful insect that attracts so much attention!
Tandem fishing before hatching
Arriving on the water, I quickly notice that the Mayflies aren't really out yet, although every now and then an insect or two flies over the water.
So I quickly set up two flies for surface fishing with a large sedge (trichoptera) and underneath a May fly nymph, because the trout must be waiting impatiently for them!
Very quickly, I catch a trout on the dry, because a big sedge in deer always attracts a few fish.
But soon enough, the trout are mostly nymphs. A simple set-up that's too heavy to imitate the nymphal phase, when they rise to the surface to hatch.
Sandy spots, such as sandbanks, are excellent. In fact, trout settle there to wait for larvae to emerge from the bottom.
I'd catch a few trout this way, and might even watch some pretty trout come literally in very little water over the sand to devour the first larvae to emerge.
Hatching should start soon!
The first insects of the season!
In fact, in the late afternoon and early evening, Mayflies start to fly and a few gobbles can be observed. These are often small flies, as they become active before the larger flies, which are waiting for the right moment to emerge and take up the best positions.
No sooner had I set my fly than it was intercepted. You quickly have to lift the rod and bridle them, as there are a lot of weeds here and the trout know how to lodge in them to try and steal your company! The best trout often do the trick and it's not uncommon to break or stall in these conditions.
I used a 15° setting to restrain them and prevent my leader from twisting. A few years ago, I was able to catch some nice trout with this sub-imago imitation.
For me, this is the stage most sought after by trout, and I have an imitation that allows me to often catch trout that are active, but even the most cunning!
Very active fish and a superb fishing session!
The trout are having a field day and I'm catching one after the other! What a pleasure it is to experience this magnificent spectacle every year. They're such beautiful insects, and there's always something magical about seeing a hatch of this great mayfly!
This session is like a dream. The weather is a bit stormy and wet. The first flies of May are coming out and the trout are enjoying them, but so am I, because it's not every day you fall into the right slot.
Indeed, these days, outbreaks are less predictable. Some days, there are flies everywhere. And other days, hardly any!
I'm taking a little longer than planned to enjoy this great moment. What a pleasure to be able to catch and release all these beautiful 100% wild Breton trout!
