Fly-fishing the caddis frenzy
The Mother’s Day caddis hatch on the Arkansas River is one of those events Colorado fly-fishers look forward to every spring, although how it came to be named the Mother’s Day Hatch is anybody’s guess since it usually starts mid-April and is pretty much over with by the time Mother’s Day rolls around in mid-May. In truth, the calendar has little to do with it; the bugs start hatching when the water temperature reaches into the 50s. I’ve heard 54 degrees is the magic number.
The phenomenon has more to do with the sheer volume of bugs than anything else. Caddis flies of the genus Brachycentrus erupt from the river in swarms so thick they can blanket the water from bank to bank, plaster the windshields of passing cars, and in some instances, even grease the streets. If you’re in the river fishing, you can spend as much time brushing the bugs from your eyes, ears, and nose as you do casting your line. A guide in Salida says, “You have to learn to breathe through your teeth to fish this hatch.”
When the hatch comes off, it can seem as if every trout in the river magically appears to feed. The emergence usually begins in the lower river near Cañon City and progresses upstream as water temperature and sunshine dictate. Locals suggest fishing upstream or downstream of the main hatch so your fly doesn’t have to compete with the millions of others just like it on the water.
Size 14 and 16 dark-bodied dry fly caddis patterns are effective, but pupae, larvae, and emerger imitations are important too. Check local fly shops for their recommendations. Dry fly anglers like drag-free presentations, but skating or skipping your fly across the surface can be effective too, because the little bugs are highly animated, and mimicking their fluttering behavior often draws strikes from aggressive feeders. Another technique is to avoid the dry fly altogether, and swing a soft-hackled wet fly downstream on a tight line to imitate the struggles of an emerging caddis.
There’s about 117 miles of river between Leadville and Cañon City, but not all of it is prime, public, or accessible. Because the hatch draws anglers from all over the state and more than a few from across the country, it would behoove you to avoid weekend crowds or hire a guide who has access to private water if you have limited time to fish. Guides and outfitters are available at most of the fly shops in Cañon City, Salida, and Buena Vista as well as Denver and Colorado Springs. Go now — if you wait for Mother’s Day, it could be over before you get there.
The author, Dennis Smith is a freelance outdoors writer and photographer whose work appears nationally. He lives in Loveland. Photo provided by Dennis Smith.
