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3. How are your hatches doing lately?, Page 2

Northern MI is experiencing fish kill from the heat. I'm a bit concerned about populations since the recent back to back brutal winters did us no favors; numbers are low enough as it is.

I was going to go out fishing tonight, but I think I am going to wait until after our next round of rain, coming in tonight thank goodness! I don't want to stress out any fish already stressed out from the heat...and I may stick to known spring-fed waters for a while too, where they can get enough dissolved oxygen from the cooler waters. And Tim's right, as if we really need a brutal summer after those last two brutal winters...perhaps stick to bass fishing for a while? Or perch?

Went and worked in some wetlands today that I needed chest waders for last year - this year all I needed were boots, which I won't complain about on a hot muggy day...but we could damn well use a small hurricane in these parts! Funny, this year it's either flood (Louisiana - poor people) or drought (us and California). At least we don't have any raging fires going around here, surprising considering all of the pine trees and their needles....

Jonathon

The Farmer's Almanac predicts another brutal winter ahead apparently. At least we got one decent one in between. Hopefully not as bad as a couple years ago.

Jonathon- Have you ever thought about heading up and over to the black or the pigeon? From my experience, those streams are pretty darn cold in comparison to the Rifle and the Pine. Might be a good day trip for ya. Probably about 1.5-2 hours drive.

Roguerat- I absolutely love the Boardman. It's my favorite river since I've been fly fishing. Cold, Clear, and Beautiful, Yes indeed. Between this season and the latter part of last season, I've fished almost every stretch from Sheck's up into the north branch. In the 'heat' of tourist season I usually try to stay above Forks Campground because that is the furthest upstream people drop in for canoeing (they don't clear the deadfall above it). This summer I've done well swinging soft hackles and caddis pupa wet-flies when nothing is visibly hatching. I caught my biggest brook trout of the year by where you were just at, upstream of the 'forks', swinging a grey spider under a recently downed pine. I have often seen cased caddis on rocks and weeds underwater (all season). When I've been lucky enough to see mayflies hatching (nothing big though), I fish Deer-hair emergers I tied with comparadun style wings (caddis/emerger hooks sizes 10-18). Usually with adams grey, dark hair's ear, or with a pheasant tail thorax. The daytime fishing for brookies, with some browns scattered here and there,can be pretty damn good at times, even without bugs on the surface. I highly recommend doing some exploring in the upper reaches. PM me if you want some info and if you like fishing "skinny water".