Week of March 23rd 2025: Spring Swings

Week of March 23rd

The bugs are becoming more active with local rivers reaching sustained temperatures in the forties, and even reach fifty degrees on the Musky Sunday, March 23rd at 3:30.  This makes early season fishing more interesting for anglers.  Fish can be found to rise after lunch, when conditions align, and it is worth our time to fish top to bottom, or rather bottom to top, in the water column.  Unfortunately, our state remains in drought conditions and recent windy days have made things tough out there.  

Early mornings were also very cold again this weekend.  I found ice in my guides and trouble tying knots, but a couple of fish before sunrise made the struggle worthwhile. RS2, grey and small, did the trick when fished behind a heavier bead head nymph.  Once the sun and the mercury rose, a La Fontaine Sparkle pupa emerger became the key. They kept me busy with newly arrived stockies, but I have it on good authority that swinging a small streamer, mid-morning, can move some big holdover fish, too.  Let them drift up and let your rod tip find itself and the fly line slowly, with the current, reaching perpendicular with the bank. The Leisering lift mimics the sparkle pupa or streamer’s natural counterpart as an insect or fish moves toward the surface.

Around lunch time, look for BWOs and other small midges making a break for the surface and flashes as the trout pick them off.  Skittering stoneflies or caddis blown back to the water’s surface may bring up a more rambunctious trout and should continue until the temps drop towards late afternoon and the fish seem to disappear.  

Air temperatures remain on the cool side this last full week of March.  I noticed some green buds on the forsythia. Get those Hendrickson ready.  We will see what pops up next. 

Morning 9-11 am: Some midge and BWO activity. Most action this time of year occurs in the afternoon.  Midday through Late Afternoon 12 noon - 3:30pm: Early Black Stonefly Taeniopteryx nivalis Tim's stonefly, Black Copper John #16  Early Iron Blue Quill Baetis tricaudatus RS2, Adams, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18 Quill Gordon Epeorus pluralis Hare's Ear nymph #12-14, Quill Gordon Dry #12-14 Hendrickson Ephemerella subvaria Light Hendrickson #12-14, Red Quill #14 tter of days. 

See you out there, Roy B.