Good Read on The Alderfly Hatch

[AaronJasper]

The Zebra Caddis
By Aaron Jasper

The “Alder Fly” hatch on the Housatonic River in Connecticut represents sort of a last hurrah for dry fly fisherman. These caddis start hatching as early as the last week of May and some years have lasted well into July. This hatch is great for dry fly fisherman, especially later on in the hatch because of the very low nymph biomass in the river. Zebra caddis are very large and seemingly very sought after by trout. I think that this is because all of the other mayflies and caddis flies have hatched and the amount of food in the river has declined. When trout see less food they become very opportunistic and that’s the case when fishing the alderfly hatch on the Housatonic.

Fishing the Larva

For the week before the hatch takes place great fishing can be had using large bright green larva in a size 12. Fish these nymphs in the same manner that you would fish other nymphs. I like to fish these under a strike indicator using split shot to get my flies down to the bottom and in the trout’s strike zone. I find that the early morning is the best time to fish these larvae. I am assuming that this is because of the behavioral drift that is going on.

Fishing the Hatch

I have not found a great fly for fishing the emerging adults. I have had success on many different green caddis pupa. However, I have found that fishing the adult imitation near over hanging trees and brush along the river has made for some great dry fly fishing. For the adults I have experimented with some very exact patterns for this hatch. I have found that these patterns are no more effective than standard caddis fly patterns like the x caddis or even a peacock stimulator.

I have found that the best emergence of the alderflies happens in the mornings. If the day is bright sunny the emergence can end by 8 am. On cloudy days hatching can go on for most of the day.

When fishing this hatch you want to fish where there is lots of shade along the river or in areas where there are lots of overhanging trees. The alderflies do not venture far away from the river after hatching. You can have great all day dry fly fishing, especially on windy days when the adults are getting blown onto the water. When the adults land on the water they make a lot of commotion and bounce around. The trout sense this and come right over to get the easy meal.

Techniques for Fishing the Hatch

Like I have said before the Alderfly hatch can make trout very opportunistic. You don’t always have to see the trout rising to catch them. You can fish upstream with the proper dry fly and raise trout all day long. Make sure that you are fishing HEAVILY canopied sections of the river.
The standard practice of casting your offering to a single rising fish is also very successful. However, there are not always trout rising so blind fishing dries can be a deadly tactic.

I have had many guide trips in which our number one tactic to catch trout was to blind fish dry flies as the boat was moving. This out produces streamers 10 to 1 when the trout are really on the Zebra Caddis. I have had many days where we were able to catch 30 plus trout from the boat using olive x caddis dry flies.

This is one hatch that you do not want to miss. You can have great dry fly fishing at a time of year when the dry fly fishing shuts down on many of out other rivers. This hatch is very localized and only happens on a handful of rivers in the Northeast. I am just lucky that it happens right here on the Housatonic.

[Defeatist]

Hey folks,
Pretty much sums it up there, the key thing is fishing the banks, and floating from a boat really ups the ante for this hatch, however sometimes like lately the river can be almost unfloatable with its level. On the flipside when its down you can pick an area you want to fish and strategically wade out to it from the other side of the river (make sure if on the housy you wade cautiously). Alder fishing can be some of the best, and I agree is usually most seasons on the Hous' the last dry fly trout hurrah until the fall. Sorry for you beach go-ers, but pray for a wet cool summer and the fall and winter fishing there will be INSANE!!!
later,
the Stro