Emergers

I can't emphasise the importance of fishing emergers. Today there were Baetis coming off everywhere, blanket hatch so to speak, but not a single head showing. Just because I didn't see fish rising doesn't mean fish weren't chowing on those tasty morsels. I began the day nymphing with a Skwalla Stone and Sz#18 Baetis Nymph. As the hatch began I switched out to a dry dropper rig, a Sz#16 Baetis Nymph with a Sz#16 Baetis Soft Hackle dropper. I always switch to a larger nymph and shallower rig during the hatch as fish move into the riffles to ambush their prey. That little soft hackle has taken more fish for me on the Truckee than any other fly in the last two years. Today it took five, and last year that fly took, a 25", and a 26" Brown.