The Perfect Hatch
Part 1 : Chironomids

Fishing for Rainbow Trout

Long leaders on dry lines season has begun and the perfect hatch of chironomids had yet to be fished. No fear, though, it happens every year, in almost every lake in the Kamloops Area. But the trick is to time it just right. In this year (2007), our timing had been great.

It was late in May, just after the Victoria Day weekend in Kamloops area and the weather had been cool and windy but this day the winds were down and the temperature was approaching 20C. It was the perfect set-up. Armaddeus and I ventured up to the Roche Lake area to one of my favorite lakes, Hosli Lake. We hit the water late in the afternoon (4:30)and not much was happening except where 4 boats/float tubes were gathered in deep water off the far shore. Two guys were having a great time while the 2 others were marvelling at the the luck of the others.

We wandered over and quietly anchored in the area. As I looked into the water I could see a deluge of little white heads wiggling their way to the surface. It was spectacular. Thousands of chironimds hatching with very few fish moving at the surface. I knew this could be something special. As it turned out, it was spectacular... the Perfect Hatch!

This was not normally a spot on the lake that I would anchor and cast. It was at least 150 ft. from any shoal and 22'-30'deep. Hardly a location for normal flycasting opportunities. But these are chironomids. They lay their eggs in the bottom mud and rise to the occasion every year to hatch as adults.

I set up my #6 dry line, complete with a 21 ft long leader. The guys that were there before us were using a dry line with strike indicator and a wet line just hanging underneath his belly boat. I like the dry line without a strike indicator. My fishing friend, Paul Patterson (The Log Home Shows)taught me how to effectively use this strategy and my success rate improved drastically.

I started out with the dry line and casted out about 50'. I was trying to get my wet line ready but got rudely interupted by the singing of my reel. The 20" rainbow trout had taken the chironomid as it was still dropping. It continued for the next 3 hours. Fish after fish, and real dancers too. Every fish came out of the water at least 3 times.

Since you can use 2 lines while fishing in BC(if you are alone in your boat/tube), I took the opportunity to hook my wet line up and just let it hang below the side of my boat. Luck struck here too. In fact, I was about 3 seconds from a double header as I released one, the other line started singing. Interesting enough, most fish this evening took the fly while it was just hanging or dropping, with less action while retrieving. I ended up with 12 fish, mostly in the 18-20" size with the largest being 21".

We went back 4 days later and the hatch was still on. Apparently the 2 guys that were there the first day we showed up had left that morning and had action all week. Armaddeus and I showed up about 11am and headed back to the same spot. I was quick to throw out my dry line with the long leader. I had let it sit for about 5-6 minutes and started my retrieve. I noted to Armaddeus that it might be slower today...not. First cast, first fish. Actually the fishing was slower this day. It seemed that the trout were a little more selective and they only wanted to hit the fly while I was on the retrieve rather than on the dead hang. 15 fish, the biggest, a perfect specimen, was a whopping 24" (close to 6lbs).

The "perfect hatch" eased off and became sporatic just a couple days later. We had a couple of real good days 2 weeks later but for the most part the mega-hatches of chironomids were done. They will continue to hatch for the rest of the open water season but usually with less intensity (except the "bomber hatch" at Tunkwa and Leighton in late July/early June). Here are a few tips for the learning chironomid fisherman to hold on to when looking for and fishing the perfect hatch of chironomids.

1) Mid-May to the first week in June is the most predominant hatch time in the BC Southern Interior. Obviously, lower elevation lakes will come on earlier and high elevation lakes will come on a little later, but not much later.

2) When travelling on the water, keep your eyes peeled as to where the chironomids are emerging. Chances are that you will see them coming up from deep water. As we are more conditioned to work shoals and weed beds, this may feel a bit awkward at first. If you can't see the chironomids emerging, look for the birds, particularly the swallows, terns and nighthawks. They will be swarming, diving, circling and even dipping the surface of the water for fresh emergers. The fish shouldn't be far.

3) You may or may not see fish moving where the chironomids are emerging. Lack of fish moving on top doesn't mean that they are not there. It probably means that they are feeding below, closer to the bottom.

4) Rainbow trout will take the chironomids at wherever the best water temperature level is. This would be approximately 55F or 13C. The depth could be anywhere from 4' to 25'. Sunken islands between 10' and 20' deep can be a bonanza. Having a depth sounder / fish finder can be invaluable.

5) I carry at least 2 lines/rods, sometimes 3 - 2 dry lines and one deep sinker. My favorite is to hook one line up with a strike indicator to establish the right depth. Usually we set this to sink and drift with the breeze with the occasional slow retrieve. My second rod will also be the dry line but with a long leader. This line will be casted and let sit for 5 minutes or so before retrieving.

6)Learn to fish the long leader on the dry line without the indicator... 20 feet long or more. My success rate with chironomids increased by at least 3X when I finally went to the long leader. It takes patience but it's worth it.

7) Use a weighted fly, on either the dry or wet line(metal/glass - bead heads, usually white but gold or silver can be successful too). Add some small split shot where your tippet is tied to your leader. This will help you get down to your desired depth.

8) Adjust your depths and fly patterns regularly until you start taking fish.

9) Try to match the length of the chironomid with the emergers at the surface.

10) When you do catch one, pump it's stomach for an indication of what the are exactly feeding on. There are plenty of articles on pumping fish, just go to Google and put in: stomach pump + fish. You will find a lot of info. Please take care when handling the fish if you are returning it to the water.

11) Watch the other fishermen. If someone is into fish, get close enough to observe. Strike up a conversation and try to draw some information. Most fishermen will share info willingly, but not all. Be creative upon your approach and don't be too direct or you will not get the information you seek. Your ability at the art of persuasion may determine your quality of information you receive.

12) If the water is really choppy with wind, try using the naked dry line. It reduces the amount of un-natural bobbing movement that waves create on the fly if it is attached to a strike indicator.

13) When using the wet line, a short leader (6'-8ft) is fine. Determine the depth below the boat and drop your line to within 1 foot or so of the bottom. Hands off the rod until you see the tip start moving. Lift up to set the hook and hold on because you are usually in for a wild ride.

14) A real key to fishing chironomids with a dry line and long leader is to keep a sharp eye on the strike indicator or the end of your line. Rainbow trout may hammer the fly or take it slowly and gently slurp it. If you are not paying attention, it's take will go undetected and the fish may spit the fly before you can set it. Make sure that you stretch the leader and line to get the coiling out of the presentation. It gives you a more direct feel to the fly and the take.

15) Pay attention to the moon phase. Contrary to some material that is marketed, we have found that the fishing is poorest around a full moon or new moon in this area. Most of my fishing buddies would agree. My best fishing seems to be the week before the full moon (within about 3 days of it going full), up to a full week after the full moon and about a week after a new moon. Our recommendation is to keep track of this in a journal and monitor it for consistency. Over time you will get a better feel for the locale of which you are engaging you practise.

Although the big hatches of chironomids in the BC Southern Interior are less frequent as the season wears on, there are and will be many more at just about every lake. Chironomids can be fished pretty much all season so work on your technique, use patience and you will be eventually rewarded. Once you experience the perfect hatch while fishing for rainbow trout you will be forever smitten.