AQUATIC INSECT HATCH GUIDE FOR STREAMS AND RIVERS OF
THE BLUE MOUNTAINS IN NORTHEASTERN OREGON
AND SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON©
This is a guide to the major aquatic insect hatches for trout streams of the Blue Mountains of southeast Washington and northeast Oregon. The guide was originally composed by Robert L. Newell, Ph.D and Dale McKain in 2000 and 2001. This guide has been periodically updated by Dale McKain, since Dr. Newell moved from Oregon's Blue Mountain area.
The geographic area covered by this chart is; bounded on the south by the John Day River, on the north and east by the Snake and Columbia rivers, and Oregon Hwy. 207 on the west. This chart was developed from several years of collections of insects by the authors to help fly fishermen match the hatch. Our largest source of public prestine trout waters are in the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests of northeast Oregon, where many days you can spend fishing with no one in sight but the wildlife around you.
Development of hatch charts in mountainous areas of the western U.S. is difficult due to many factors that can effect hatching times. One species may hatch weeks apart in different streams, different parts of the same stream, and some species have multiple generations per year in one area and single generations in others. A hatch will normally begin at lower elevations and hatches of the same insect will occur days later at higher elevations.
We have selected insects that are the most abundant and widespread throughout the region and throughout trout water of individual streams. Other insects may be abundant in isolated streams or portions of streams. If you are prepared to match the hatch with the patterns listed here you will be ready for most major hatches throughout the fishing season.
For fly patterns discussed in this article, contact your local fly fishing
shop. In the Blue Mountain area, to find locally designed flies we suggest
you contact one of these eastern Oregon fly shops: Blue
Mountain Anglers & Fly Shop, LLC in Pendleton, Four
Seasons Fly Shoppe in La Grande, or the Joseph
Fly Shoppe in Joseph. If you are one to tye your own, we will suggest
that you look at these books of suggestive fly patterns; Flies: The Best
One Thousand, by R. Stetzer and Flies of the Northwest, by the
Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club. One of the finest fly tying book/ manual
written and now produced digitally is The Art of Fly Tying by John
Van Vliet. One tip we will share here is the most dominate insect body coloration
in the Blue Mountains include amber (about the color of this page background),
as well as black and brown.
For photographs of these insects and workable patterns, use one of the many published hatch guides written for western streams or consult such reference books such as; Hatch Guide for Western Streams, Mayflies, Caddis Super Hatches, Caddisflies, or Hatches II, to name a few available sources. We have listed some of the major insect hatches by their Latin generic name. We did this to help interested fishermen to search out additional information of a particular hatch, including photographs, from other publications, design their own patterns based on the photos, and associate common fly names with scientific names. Common/ local fly names are notoriously inconsistent while the Latin/ scientific names are consistent.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
In addition to hatches, we have listed some "non-hatches", and terrestrial insects. These non-hatches are not insects and therefore do not have adult phases that leave the water. As you use this chart, don't forget about the nymphs of this insects, emergers, stillborn duns, and pupae when appropriate. Stonefly nymphs crawl out of the water to hatch so the presence of cast skins is good evidence of a recent hatch. This chart is organized by months. For a particular hatch you will usually see the genus of aquatic insect, an appropriate dry fly, nymph pattern, and suggested size. Some genera listed here represent several species, each species may call for a different pattern, e.g. Cinygmula, we list the red quill, light cahill, pale brown dun, and pink lady to cover all of the species. There are interesting differences between streams in this area and other western trout streams. The giant stonefly hatches much earlier in this area. Hatches of the western green drake are small and scattered. The medium stonefly, Skwala, has no common name and is very abundant, with large hatches in March and April.
If we had to recommend one fly to match in this region of the west, it would be the spotted sedge, imitating the adult of the caddisfly family Hydropsychidae, including Hydropsyche, and smaller Cheumatopsyche, which are the most common insects in Blue Mountain Streams. One or more species of these caddis are present for most of the fishing season. These caddis definitely have a "superhatch.".
| STILLWATER FLIES Most of our high mountian lakes are not accessible until April, and some lakes above 8000' it maybe as late as July 4th before you can hike into them. It always seems the trout are waiting for the first fly of the season to hit the water, and then the lake will churn right before you eyes. The lakes and ponds that can be reached in March and April can be best fished with Chironomids (16-20), Pheasant Tail Nymphs (18-22), Red San Juan Worm (12-14), and Midge Pupae (18-22) patterns. We have found the best flies to use in our stillwaters for trout beginning in May, are wooly buggers Elk Horn Lake Special (14) on overcast or sunny days, Blue Mountain Dragon (8) on sunny days, and a Rickards' AP Emerger (12-16) in the early am and late pm hours. Orange, black or brown leech patterns Wooly Bugger (6-14) work well almost anytime in stillwater. Good dry flies to use in our Blue Mountain lakes are Adams (14-22), Cream or Dun Callibaetis (10-16), Baetis/ BlueWinged Olive (10-14), Comparadun Gray/Sulphur (14-18) P.M.D, Trico Spinner (14-22). Many lakes hold crayfish in the 2"- 4" range, most in a green to amber coloration. |
 Denny's Pheasant Tail Emerger |
 AP Emerger |
 Elkhorn Lake Special |
 Wooly Wolfe | |
 Comparadun |
 Blue Mtn. Dragon |
STREAM AND RIVER FLIES
MARCH
Winters are mild at lower elevations of the Blue Mountains
and spring comes early, while the snow can impede fisherman movement at
higher elevations. Runoff is usually greatest in late winter as rains cause
snowmelt and high, turbid streams. While Rocky Mountain streams may be high
into July, Blue Mountain streams are dropping in May. There are prolific
hatches in the late winter. The popular salmonfly begins hatching much earlier
in this region than elsewhere in the west. The following specific insects
can be expected as adults; midges, mayflies like Baetis, Rhithrogena, and
stoneflies like Pteronarcys, Skwala, and small winter stoneflies. Shown
here - March Brown (left), Blue Winged Olive (right)
DRY: 1- Baetis-Blue winged olive and blue duns (18-20); 2-Rhithrogena-Western
March browns, hairwings, CDC, or comparaduns (10-14); 3-Skwala stonefly,
stimulator (light olive)
(8-10, 2XL); 4-Pteronarcys-Salmonfly or giant stonefly, sofa pillow, stimulator,
Clark's stonefly (4-8, 3XL); 5-Small black winter stonefly (Capnia, Isocapnia,
Nemouridae), small brown stone (12-16).
NYMPHS:1- Krystal flash nymph, Baetis nymph, pheasant tail (14-20, 2XL); 2-Gold ribbed hare's ear, March brown soft hackle, CDC emerger (10-14); 3-Skwala; small golden stone (8-10 2xl);4-Kaufmann's black stone, black stone, Box Canyon stone (4-8, 3XL); 5-Hare's ear, pheasant tail (12-16).
APRIL
Streams can be high and dirty in April, some streams are
closed to fishing and, dry fly fishing can be impossible. The weather will
dictate the actual stream/fishing conditions. Warm weather and/or rain will
turn most streams high and muddy. Some of the caddisfly (Brachycentrus),
stoneflies (Skwala, Pteronarcys, Hesperoperla), and a few mayfly (Rhithrogena-Western
March brown) hatches can be heavy.
Shown here - October Caddis nymph (left), Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear
(right)
DRY: 1-Rhithrogena-Western March Browns, CDC, or comparaduns (10-14); 2-Brachycentrus-black caddis, American grannon, deer hair caddis (12-16); 3-Skwala stonefly, stimulator (light olive) (8-10, 2XL); 4-Hesperoperla, Golden stones, orange stimulator, madam X (6-8 2XL); 5-Pteronarcys, Salmonfly or giant stonefly, sofa pillow, stimulator, Clark's stonefly (4-8 3XL)
NYMPHS: 1-Gold ribbed hare's ear, March brown soft hackle (10-14); 2-Brachycentrus larvae, herl nymph (10-16 2XL); 3-Kaufmann's stonefly (4-8 3XL),4-little brown stone, golden stone nymph (10-6 2XL). See March for other patterns (5).
MAY
By the time the andromous rivers Opening Trout Season weekend is here
the runoff is over or waning in most Blue Mountain Streams. Large streams
like the Umatilla River may still be high and dirty however. By the end
of May hot weather is close at hand and the majority of hatches will be
happening. Some of the species seen in April are still hatching along with
some other caddis (Cheumatopsyche), and stoneflies (Pteronarcella) in May.
Pteronarcella is the smaller identical cousin of the giant stonefly. In
Oregon's Northeast Zone general trout season opens on all rivers Memorial
Day Weekend, with exception of some native spring Chinook spawning waters
(see
ODFW fishing regulations)
Shown here - Black Elk Hair Caddis (left), Royal Trude (right)
DRY: 1-Rhithrogena, Western March Browns (10-14); 2-Brachycentrus, black
caddis
(12-16); 3-Cheumatopsyche, elk hair caddis (12-18); 3-Skwala stonefly, stimulator
(olive color) (8-10 2XL); 4-Pteronarcella, small salmonfly, orange stimulator
(8-10 2XL); 5-Hesperoperla & Calineuria-Golden stones (6-8 2XL).
NYMPH: 1-Hare's ear (10-14); herl nymph, Martinez nymph (10-16 2XL); 2-bead head caddis, sparkle pupae (12-16);3-Skwala , small golden stone (8-10 2XL), 4-Kaufmann's stonefly (8-10 2XL), 5-golden stone nymph (6-10 2XL).
JUNE
June the weather is beginning to get hot at
low elevations, the streams have dropped and cleared and the mayfly hatches
are beginning in earnest. We have seen simultaneous hatches in early June
of several kinds of mayflies (e.g. Baetis, Drunella, Ephemerella, Paraleptophlebia,
Rhithrogena and Epeorus), caddisflies seen in earlier months, and some stoneflies.
Matching the hatch can be easy or hard during these conditions. Multiple
hatches are common.
Shown here - Royal Trude (left) - Royal Wulff (right) great
flies for June stream presentations.
DRY: 1-Baetis, blue dun (18-20); 2-Cinygmula, red quill, light cahill, pale
brown dun, pink lady, parachute dun, comparadun (12-16); 3-Drunella doddsi
and grandis, western green drakes (8-10); 4-D. flavilinea, flavs., lesser
green drake, blue-winged olive (14-16); 5-E. infrequens/E. inermis, pale
morning duns, (14-16); 6-Paraleptophlebia, mahogany duns, blue quill (12-16);
7-Epeorus, Quill Gordon, cahill (10-16); 8-Rhithrogena, Western March brown
(a few stragglers only), (10-14); 9-Cheumatopsyche, caddis, elk hair caddis
(12-18); 10-Hydropsyche, spotted sedge-a "super hatch", elk hair
caddis (10-14 ); 11-Skwala stonefly, end of this hatch, stimulator (8-10
2XL); 12-Hesperoperla & Calineuria, Golden stones, end of this hatch,
stimulator (6-8 2XL); 13-Pteronarcella, small salmonfly, black stimulator
(8-10 2XL).
NYMPH: 1 & 2, 4-8-Krystal flash nymph, Baetis nymph, pheasant tail, brown nymph, bird's nest (12-20, 2XL), 3-olive hare's ear (8-10 2XL); 9 & 10-bead head caddis, sparkle pupae (10-16), Kaufmann's golden stone (6-8 3XL), black stone nymph (8-10 2XL), see previous months for previously listed organisms and patterns.
JULY
July the weather is getting very hot, the streams are now low, the water
is warm, and the hatches are generally in the mornings and evenings. The
hatches are very similar to those seen in June with the addition of the
small yellow, tan, and orange summer stoneflies. This is hopper time; the
end of the month usually fishes very successfully with hopper in the early
to late afternoons. Shown here - Adams (left), Yellow Sally
(right)
DRY: 1-Baetis-Blue-winged olive, blue duns, blue-winged olive spinner (18-20);2-Cinygmula , red quill, (other patterns see above)(12-16); 3-D. grandis and doddsi, Western green drake, (small hatches) (8-10); 4-D. flavilinea, flavs., lesser green drakes, blue-winged olive (14-16); 5-E. infrequens/E. inermis, pale morning duns (14-16); 6-Paraleptophlebia, mahogany duns (see above for other patterns) (12-16); 7-Epeorus, Quill Gordon, cahill, (10-16); 8-Brachycentrus, black caddis and a "superhatch" (12-16); 9-Cheumatopsyche caddis, elk hair caddis (12-18); 10-Hydropsyche, spotted sedge and a "superhatch", elk hair caddis (10-14 ); 11-Chloroperlidae-yellow sally stoneflies (10-16 2XL), hoppers (6-12)..
NYMPHS: Krystal flash nymph, Baetis nymph, pheasant tail, bird's nest, bead head nymphs, hare's ear, (14-20, 2XL), olive hare's ear (8-10 2XL), bead head caddis, sparkle pupae (10-16), little yellow stone (10-14 2XL), see previous months for hatches previous listed.
AUGUST
August is full blown Hopper season. This month has the dog days of summer.
Almost anywhere from late morning to late afternoon hoppers are clicking
throughout our meadows and sitting on the streamside grasses. The days can
be extremely hot and the evenings warm. The streams are very low and warm.
The hatches will be early and late in the day, primarily mayflies, with
caddis and a few summer stoneflies, similar to what is listed for July.
Caddis hatches are quite prevalent in the later afternoon/ evening hours.
Shady, cool canyons could see some mid-day hatches.
Shown here - Hopper (left) Tan Elk Hair Caddis (right)
DRY: 1-Cinygmula, Quill Gordon (10-16); 2-E. doddsi and E. grandis, small
hatches, western green drake (8-10); 3-D. flavilinea, flavs, lesser green
drakes (14-16); 4-E. infrequens/E. inermis, pale morning duns (14-16); 5-Paraleptophlebia,
mahogany duns(see other patterns above) (12-16); 6-Epeorus, Quill Gordon,
cahill (10-16); 7-Brachycentrus, black caddis (12-16); 8-Hydropsyche, spotted
sedge, elk hair
caddis (10-14 ), hoppers (6-10).
NYMPHS: Pheasant tail, light & dark hare's ear, bead head, bird's
nest (14-20 2XL), olive hare's ear (8-10 2XL), bead head caddis, sparkle
pupae (10-14 2XL), see previous months for other patterns.
September and October the summer run steelhead begin to move out of the
mighty Columbia River into our Blue Mountain Rivers. First rivers to start
fishing well is the lower John Day River, next is the Umatilla, and then
the Grand Ronde River. Steelhead this time of year are fat from ocean feeding,
and have more of a sense of attacking a fly than feeding on flies. Therefore
we do not tye flies that imitate insects/food, but tye flies to trigger
the habits developed during the steelhead's youth when it was feeding in
these home waters. On bright sunny day use a bright - flashy fly, on overcast
days use a dark fly, the Gold-n-Cock will work in both conditions, but best
on bright sunny days. Most flies are tyed in the hook size range of 2/0
- 8, using various size wire for hooks.
NOTE: Many of the fishers of the Blue Mountain area begin their summer
steelhead fishing in central Oregon's lower Deschutes River in late August
and September.
 Green Butt Skunk |
 Gold-n-Cock |
 Freight Train |
 Spawning Purple |
SEPTEMBER
The real hot weather is over but the days will still be very
warm and bright. Most of the major mayfly hatches start to wane in September.
I few leaves will be starting to turn color and the streams will be very
low unless some fall rains have occurred. As the days and nights cool, hatches
will occur mid-day again. Toward the end of the month, in cool shaded canyons
and at higher elevations the mornings and evenings are too cold for insects
to fly and mid-day will provide the only hatches. Fewer hatches will occur
as the month proceeds including the appearance of the largest caddis in
the area, Dicosmoecus (the October Caddis). Fishing can be spectacular.
Shown here - Yellow Stimulator (left for hopper imitation) Orange
Stimulator (right for October Caddis imitation)
DRY: 1-Baetis, blue wing olives and duns (18-20); 2-D. doddsi and D. grandis, small scattered hatches (8-10); 3-E. infrequens/E. inermis, pale morning duns (14-16); 4-Paraleptophlebia, mahogany duns (12-16); 5-Brachycentrus, black caddis (12-16); 6-Hydropsyche, spotted sedge, elk hair caddis (10-14); 7-Dicosmoecus, October caddis or giant orange sedge (6-8 2XL); 8-Claassenia, fall stonefly, we are calling it the cream stonefly, orange and yellow hopper patterns, yellow stimulator and orange stimulator (6-8 2XL).
NYMPHS: 1-Hare's ear, pheasant tail (10-14), 2-olive hare's ear (8-10 2XL), 7-buckskin larvae, stone cased caddis (6-10 3XL), 8-golden stone nymph (6-10 2XL),see previous months for other patterns.
OCTOBER
Fall is in the air. This is truly October Caddis time. Toward the end
of the month, frost is possible and perhaps an early dusting of high elevation
snow can occasionally be seen. The nights are longer and cold.
Fall rains can dirty the water and knock leaves into the water making nymph
fishing difficult. The stream water is cold and a few sporadic hatches will
occur for a few hours during the warmest part of the day or sunniest reaches
of streams. Some fishing seasons close at the end of this month. With the
possible exception of the October caddis hatches, none will be spectacular.
Occasionally one is surprised on isolated stretches of streams when a large
caddis (Neophylax) hatch occurs
(tributaries of the Walla Walla and Touchet Rivers), along with the large
fall stonefly (Claassenia) which, however, is relative secretive and hard
to spot. In Oregon's Northeast Zone general trout season closes on all andromous
rivers at sunset October 31.
Shown here - Orange Stimulator
DRY: 1-Neophylax, dark speckled sedge, dark elk hare caddis (8-10 2XL), 2-Dicosmoecus, October caddis or giant orange sedge, orange stimulator, orange hopper patterns (6-8 2XL); 3-Claassenia, large cream stonefly, yellow stimulator, yellow or white hopper patterns (6-8 2XL).
NYMPH: 1-bead head caddis, dark hare's ear (8-10 2XL), 2-buckskin caddis, stone cased caddis (6-10 3XL), 3-golden stone (6-8 2XL).
NOVEMBER
In Oregon's Northeast Zone general trout season closes on all andromous
rivers at sunset October 31. Hatches during the cold days of November are
rare. Midge hatches can be expected and it is too early for the tiny black
winter stoneflies. Midge (or 
chironomid) pupae patterns would
be a good choice also. There are some large, rare caddisflies that are usually
not numerous, and midge hatches can occur at times. An occasional blue dun
may be seen on a sunny day. Nymphs are probably your best bet. Northeast
Oregon has two (2) trout streams open for year around angling - McKay Creek
near Pendleton and Powder River near Baker City. All accessible stillwater
lakes and pond are fishable year around for trout fishing, unless noted
otherwise in the Oregon
Dept.of Fish and Wildlife regulations. Steelhead season opens on most
rivers in the Northeast Zone effective September 1. After trout season closes
we begin to throw black leeches (2-4) at the sea run rainbow trout (steelhead)
in all our river.
Shown here - Egg Sucking Leech
WINTER
This is not a good time for dry flies. Occasionally, quite, sunny winter
days will provide some short hatches of midges or an 
occasional blue
dun. A few tiny black winter stoneflies can often be seen on the snow. The
water is very cold and the fish are inactive. Winter rains can turn most
streams turbid. Nymphs are the best choice. One might do better tying flies
for next season or chasing steelhead through the winter months. As the weather
gets colder and fish are more lethargic we throw larger flies with greater
attraction - articulated leeches (1/0 - 2).
Shown here - Articulated Egg Sucking Bunny Leech
TERRESTRIALS
Several insects that do not live in water, can offer great summer fishing
opportunities. You should always have a few patters to imitate the following
terrestrials:
1. Ants
2. Beetles, black
3. Caterpillars
4. Grasshoppers-many grasshopper patterns could be taken by fish as caddis
or stonefly adults. A #8 or #10 orange stimulator is the best fly to use
for these imitations.
NON HATCHES
Consider carrying and fishing patterns for the following critters that
do not hatch or are not insects:
1. Crayfish-crayfish are common in most streams of the reference area. These
brownish orange creatures can get up to two inches long in the fall.
2. Leeches
3. Snails
4. Scuds or often erroneously called "freshwater shrimp"
5. Minnows, sculpins, eggs (salmon or steelhead), or small trout.
6. Worms-all the local streams contain small aquatic worms up to 1 inch
long that look much like common earthworms found in your garden.
A #6 or #8 San Juan Worm is the best fly to use for this imitation.
If you have comments, suggestions, or data (e.g. specimens) that will increase the accuracy of this chart, please contact Dale McKain.
To be emailed our regularly delivered Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife - Northeast Zone and club's local fishing reports please click here to be included in Blue Mountain Flycasters' delivery list.
Hatch Guide VI- RLN and DBM 9/21/2006© copyrighted 2001-2007
Orginal authors' copy as written and developed by Dr. Robert Newell and
Dale McKain Hatch Guide II,
can be found at
Blue Mountain Anglers & Fly Shop, LLC (was sold with fly
shop by Dale McKain - owner) also copyrighted by the above authors.
© reproduction only by permission from the authors
Thank you.
| Webmaster: Dale McKain Website design: mckaincomputergraphics Last Update: October 2007 |
|
|
