"BWO Season"

April 16, 2010 By: Marshall Cutchin

The city of Cody, Wyoming, USA

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It’s the time of spring in the U.S. West when runoff is just around the corner, snow is a recent memory, and local anglers enjoy some of the finest fishing this side of June’s stonefly bonanza. It’s Blue-Winged Olive time.
Brian La Rue writes about the huge BWO and midge hatches going on right now on the Lower Shoshone near Cody, Wyoming. “‘Peak time for the hatch is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.. Heavy hatches of midges are on the water to add to the fun. For patterns, try dries like size 16 to 22 olive snowshoe sparkle duns, olive CDC emergers, para-midges, hatching midges, Griffith’s gnats and parachute Adams.'”
Meanwhile Karl Licis tracks the intense hatches being seen on the Arkansas. “Even when surface activity is not evident, BWOs are still part of the picture. Two- or three-fly rigs are commonly used on the Arkansas. An effective springtime combination consists of a weighted golden stonefly nymph, trailed by a bead-head Pheasant Tail or similar pattern that might suggest a Baetis nymph to the trout. ”

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