We like to fish the Drakes sometime before noon, but you never can tell just when a hatch may happen. If you cast to an empty rising pocket of water chances are you may have a redside give her a look, hell maybe even break the surface and attack, but mostly you'll be disappointed in your failing attempt at anything of significance. However, it is those few brave souls that think "give it another hour" we'll see what starts to happen because you just never know. It's these types of people that often find themselves punch drunk on a buzzing madness of green beauties making their way down river.
I happened to be one of those fools, a happy fool at that, this past Sunday - Father's Day. Dad happened to be recovering from a recent spill, face first, into a shallow stretch of water below the bay when it first happened.
"Did you see that?"
Behind and unbeknownst to me, a few brawny adult Green Drakes were motioning toward a seam just before a large pool of water forms swirling eddies and helpless shucks of various PMD, Caddis and Drake emergers and cripples. The first fish to take an adult was soon reprimanded for his lack of attention under fire. I dropped my Paradrake just above where he struck and damned if he didn't take it again. The silence has now officially taken back its vow and life breathes back into the river like a forgotten lover.
"Look at em all...," I say as the hoards of joining fans come rushing around the bend in the river and on toward the slowing of the current and the settling of the wind.
By now I've seen maybe 50 adults fluttering in unison, all at once and perfectly tuned to the ways of flight. 15-20 surface looks sure makes for a fun half hour on a river that rarely lends itself to the most acquainted of angling minds. We landed two fish this fine afternoon and a few stories to boot. I sure love Green Drakes and spring fed rivers...
