How To Match The Hatch in Fly Fishing

Many are afraid to start fly fishing fishing. The mystique intrigues them, but they won’t take the steps to learn about it.

We’re going to teach you how to fly fish and catch fish by matching the hatch. Right now, you’re going to learn how easy it is.

The entomology part of fly fishing especially scares people. They think that there’s too much to learn about insects, how they act and when they hatch. Many have seen insects emerging and trout hitting them, but when they have tried to fish for them, they could not match what was hatching on the water. After a couple of hours of fishing in vain, they leave the fish biting, but not on what they’re fishing with! How completely frustrating!

Matching the hatch is not that difficult. With a little information and a different approach to how you fish, you can become a successful fly fisherman in little time and with not much effort. Matching the hatch, the hardest element of fly fishing for most anglers, can be effortless, provided you follow some simple steps.

Understanding some basic entomology (I mean basic) is important, but little information more than this article should allow you to stop guessing and start catching.

Stoneflies, Caddis and Mayflies – The Big 3

Insects that trout eat fall into a number of general classifications, and most that anglers fish with are called stoneflies, caddis and mayflies (there are also midges and terrestrials, but we’ll keep it simple here).

Stoneflies are often large (except for the early black stonefly, which is small), and the flies that imitate them are often tied on hooks in size 8 or 10. They hatch by crawling up on rocks or the side of the river, warming themselves and letting their wings dry, then flying out into the air. However, they are clumsy and awkward when flying and often get blown back into the river. Trout love to eat them and will often gorge themselves on stoneflies.

Stoneflies can be found in three major colors – black, brown and golden. Black and brown stones can be found in most area waters, but the golden stonefly can only be found in the cleanest waters. I’ve seen golden stones hatch in the South Branch of the Raritan, above the Ken Lockwood Gorge section in Califon; I also understand that these golden stones hatch in the Big Flatbrook in Sussex County. Other Pocono and Catskill stream will see golden stone hatches; they’re pretty amazing, but the stream must be clean.

Caddis look like moths and are also plentiful in Northeast rivers. They come in a number of colors, including tan, gray, black, and cinnamon, and can also be found in a number of sizes, from 6 to 18.

Before hatching, caddis pupae can be found under rocks, similar to mayflies and stoneflies. When hatching, however, caddis often get to surface quickly, and they are good fliers. Quick-witted trout will still chase caddis and will often smash the surface when chasing them.

Mayflies are the most well known types of flies and used most often by fly fishermen. They come in many different colors and sizes, and make up a good part of a trout’s diet. While trout feed on them so often, they will only feed on the type of mayfly that is prevalent on their waters at a specific time. This is why ‘matching the hatch’ is so important and critical to successfully catching fish. Anglers must be able to match the type, color and size of mayfly to what’s hatching on their streams.

Popular Mayflies

Mayflies hatch throughout the year, and their colors and sizes change throughout the year as well. At the beginning of the year, they are usually small and dark, but as the spring progresses, the mayflies get lighter and lighter, and their sizes get larger.

As summer comes, their sizes get smaller once again, then darker as the summer progresses. This is not an absolute rule, but many of the hatches fall into this pattern. Below are some of the more popular, or more prolific, mayflies that can be found at various times of the year in Northeast streams.

The Tiny Blue Winged Olive (also known as the baetis) can be found in all streams in the Northeast and emerges throughout the season. This small mayfly can be seen hatching throughout the early spring, then in the fall and even winter. Their sizes range from size 18 to 28, but usually fall into the size 18 to 24 category. Later in the spring, the larger Blue Winged Olive, which can be found in sizes 12 through 16, will hatch on New Jersey streams, so having an assortment of Blue Winged Olives that range from size 14 to 22 is prudent for the successful fly fisherman.

The Hendrickson is one of the most popular flies that many of the beginning fly fishermen first encounter, because they hatch shortly after opening day of trout season. In addition, the Hendrickson’s numbers are staggering, making a river full of freshly stocked trout come alive with trout smashing the surface, sucking up emerging mayflies. I’ve seen many days where bait fishermen were frustrated because they couldn’t catch a thing, but I caught 20 trout on this larger mayfly.

The Hendrickson is a darker mayfly that can be found in sizes 10 to 16, but usually falls into the size 12 or 14. It emerges anywhere from mid-April to early June, but most New Jersey streams find the Hendrickson hatching in mid to late April. The early season fly fisherman must have some Hendricksons in his arsenal to successfully match the hatch.

As the spring progresses and the mayflies lighten in color and shrink their size, the Sulphur emerges. This light yellow (sulphur) species is usually found in sizes 16 or 18, and it emerges anytime from the middle of May to the end of June in New Jersey streams. While its numbers are not prolific, when the Sulphur hatch is on, trout will only take the Sulphur. Because it stays in the water for such a long time, fly fisherman must have some Sulphurs in his fly box for success.

The Light Cahill is a large, white mayfly that will make a stream come alive with trout smashing the surface. This mayfly hatches in June and July, a time when most fishermen have left the streams in pursuit of bass or other species. Cahills come in size 12 or 14 and can quickly put the fly fisherman into soon-to-be holdover trout.

As the dog days of summer progress, the tricos come to life on Northeast and New Jersey streams. These are very dark mayflies that are as small as the Tiny Blue Winged Olives, often found in sizes 20 to 24. Tricos hatch at dusk or night, but they mate then die and fall into the water in the early morning, and are quite plentiful. There are mornings when the angler will go out on the water in the late summer and see clouds of tricos right above the water, with trout trying to get to them.

Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open

Successful anglers, particularly successful fly fishermen, are aware of their surroundings. I have been out with charter captains and guides that have noticed fish rolling and moving under the surface when I did not detect anything. I may have lost attention while fishing or may not have been looking for the right signs, but all clues are important when determining where fish are and what they are feeding on.

Before you get out in a trout stream and begin fishing, and even before you enter the water, look around the stream and river you are fishing. See if there are any signs of insects. Are there moths (caddis flies) flying around? Are there any insects in the air, coming off of the water? If you see any of these clues, try to grab one of the insects that are around to see what it is. Check your fly box and find the most appropriate match.

If the area is devoid of any insect activity, don’t fret. Go to the edge of the stream and pick up some rocks, looking at what comes out from under them. I usually carry a small kitchen strainer to catch everything that comes out from under rocks so I can then identify them. In our area, we will find nymphs of stoneflies and mayflies, particularly mayflies. Look to see the color of these nymphs, and find the best match in your fly box.

Matching the hatch is not as difficult as it seems. Carrying some of the major mayflies mentioned here and in the side table will keep you into the trout that you are after. Fly fishing is rewarding when you can match the hatch!