On DeMark Lodge Fishing Report 4/21/2024
By: Craig DeMark
Baetis are back!
After a little shot of winter this last week, we’ve returned to more springlike weather the last couple of days. Flows out of Holter have been steady at around 3600 cfs. Water temps continue to rise and sit at 45 right now.
The baetis (aka BWO) hatch has arrived with a vengeance! We had some outstanding surface fishing throughout the day with clouds, snow and rain. It turns to more of a late afternoon thing on sunny days. Huge numbers of midges remain and are another reason the fish are looking up. The fish seem to prefer the baetis. We like patterns that are easily visible with materials showing on the surface of the water. Baetis duns are seemingly clumsy as they always fall sideways or get blown over. Parachutes, challenged or down wing patterns are all good choices. Size 18s are about as small as you have to go. A parachute Adams is a good choice. Even on the days that the hatch doesn’t seem too heavy, keep looking for risers. Concentrate on shallow, slow banks and back eddies. We’re starting to get into the time that you can usually find some rising targets somewhere, everyday. Evenings present a lot of midge sippers in the slow pools if you want to fish till dark.
Nymphing is still very productive throughout the day. Sow bugs and scuds are good choices in the upper river. Baetis nymphs become the main target through the middle and lower river. Most of the rigs we run right now are a deep drop with a little split shot. 7-9 feet from the indicator to flies is normal. If you’re not getting fish, adjust the depth before you change patterns. Concentrate on the heads of runs, tailouts, and deep rocks with flow. There’s a few fish on shallow gravel bars, but not enough to nymph them yet. Yet….
Pill Poppers, Tungsten Tailwater Sow Bugs, Gut Sacks, and Mo Czechs for the crustaceans. BWO Split Case, Flashback PTs, and Olive Quilldigons for the baetis. Zebra midges work 12 months out of the year so maybe those.
Streamer fishing is a great way to target those big Brown’s coming out of their winter doldrums. Make sure you’re still fishing them S L O W. Barely a strip. More of a drag. You spey guys know what I mean. Shallow banks and deep pools are the best places to prospect. It might take some time to slowly drag through those spots but that one, weighty pull of a good fish is well worth it. I’m liking the big buggers for my choice of streamers right now. Black, Olive and Yellow are all worth tying on.
It looks like the weather is going to be pretty nice for the next 10 days. Highs ranging from the mid 50s to 70. Hopefully some days with clouds and showers sprinkled in. The wind is blowing today, so it’s a good day to prepare the lodge and write fishing reports. You really can’t go wrong fishing the Mo from now through late fall. It’s going to be great right now and keep on getting better. Target your dates according to the hatch and weather you like. Then get here. It’s as easy as that.
Till the next one.
Cheers!