Glacier Creek has been on fire for the last two weeks. Hatches have been prominent in the a.m.; including some really great PMD and Little Yellow Sallies. I have been going with a size 16 PMD behind a PMX early and then switching over around 10-11 a.m. In the middle of the day, think attractors and terrestrials, fuzzy and leggy. Amy's Ant's, Chubby's, Humpies; with or without legs, Stimulators, beetles, ants...you get the idea.
Speaking of ants, I have been tying up a new black ant with a really small but highly visible post lately. I tied it up in order to achieve the great ant dilemma; fishing an ant pattern that remains true to the original while still being visible. Usually, you can't see the darned thing or if you can see it, it has a ridiculous looking indicator tyed into it that is way too big. So with this pattern, I wanted to keep it small, true to form, and visible. So I tyed some up, took them up to Glacier on a trip out with a client, and his words exactly were "you should patent this thing and retire". Well that said it all; this thing is money, everywhere. I have tried it up at Boulder Creek too and it killed em' there too. And the good news, when it drowns, you keep getting bites. Really explosive action on the subsurface. More of a sip on top, unless you are in brooky water where they just slam it. My other hope with this fly was making an original and effective ant pattern that you can't get any where else besides through me. So look for it soon on the site. It's called Hull's black McAnt. It's for sale if you want it now, but I haven't posted it on the flies page yet -soon. Also, I have recently, because of stream side observation, taken to tying a black and red ant with red legs and the same post, just a different color. It will be going through alpha level testing tomorrow on most likely Boulder Creek. After that, if successful, it will go to beta level; as in 'beta' catch me some fish cuz it has before. I expect it to be just as successful as the original, and I have yet to ever test an original fly pattern that didn't make it to the fly box in increments of 6 at a time. In other words, it will work. I can almost guarantee it. Look for an update soon. But it will work...
(And it's such a good looking fly too).
Now back to the river report.
Once you start getting into the later part of the afternoon, start switching it up a little bit. Look for some Caddis hatches early on that can be easily replicated with an Elk Hair Caddis, now available for sale, or an X Caddis; also available on the site. I have been having luck with the caddis on the dead drift as well as on the downstream skate. I have even had clients catch some with a nice strolling technique (walking from one hole to another while leaving your flies dangling behind-unintentional in nature). I have found that once the caddis come out, anything with some elk hair or deer hair flaring off the hook will get you some bites, especially with a skate. Think PMX, Stimmy, Amy's Ant, and obviously, any real caddis imitation.
Some days, the temps are getting really high up there and/or we have been having rain storms. This is a good time to hit the road, or even better, chill with Jack and Mary in the truck or stream side for a while and hit up happy hour for some half price trouts and apps.
If you do stay for happy hour in The Park, you will be rewarded greatly. At about 6:30 p.m., the hatch is on and the trout are hungry. Look for the PMD's again, and some more sallies, as well as more caddis. A week or so ago, I fished a 40 yard straight away for about 2 hours, getting a cast on almost every bite with a PMD, followed by a fire belly beetle; also now available for sale. One of the more memorable evenings I have had in a little bit.
If you can, get out there. It is just on fire right now. My client yesterday told me that he thought he could have probably caught over 75 fish if he caught all the bites he got. I thought it was closer to 100, but either way.
Look for some new spots as well. Remember, for the most part, the spot that you never fish is usually the spot that other guys never fish. Go check it out. Chances are you will find some hungry trout and some favorite new holes. Either way, if you get out to Glacier, you will find some fun fly fishing.
Tight Lines-
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