Salmonfly

Giant stonefly imitation; deadly during Western salmonfly hatches.

Printed on the King of clubs

Salmonflies are enormous — a mature adult is a genuinely large insect, orange-bodied and clumsy — and their emergence on western freestone rivers is the most anticipated event of the fly fishing calendar. Nymphs crawl to the banks to hatch, adults clamber in the streamside willows, and the ones that fall in do not go unnoticed.

The hatch moves upstream as water temperatures climb, often several miles a day, which means timing is everything and a river can be red hot one morning and finished the next. Local knowledge, or a phone call to a fly shop, is worth more than any pattern choice.

Because the naturals are so large, presentation forgiveness is unusually high. A salmonfly imitation can land hard, drag a little and still get eaten. What it must do is float — a waterlogged fly this size is useless — and be visible enough for you to track in heavy water.

What does a Salmonfly imitate?

Adult giant stoneflies of the genus Pteronarcys.

How do you fish a Salmonfly?

Fish it tight to the banks and the willows, where the adults actually fall in. Let it land audibly. Twitching it occasionally imitates a struggling adult and often triggers the take.

When should you fish a Salmonfly?

Late spring and early summer on western freestone rivers, as the hatch works its way upstream. A narrow window, typically two to three weeks on any given stretch.

What are the quick tips for fishing it?

• Call a local fly shop. The hatch moves miles a day and timing beats pattern.
• Fish the bank. The insects come from the willows, not midstream.
• Carry a nymph too — the days before the adults appear can be better than the hatch itself.

How is a Salmonfly tied?

• Hook: 3XL dry fly, #4-#8
• Body: orange foam or dubbing
• Wing: elk hair
• Legs: black rubber
• Indicator: bright foam post

Dressings vary by tier and region. Treat this as the common recipe, not the only one.