fishing

In Nature's Realm
THE JOURNAL OF FLY-FISHING
THE MAYFLY OF OUR INLAND LAKES


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In Nature's Realm Editorial
Welcome to this first edition of In Nature’s Realm-The journal of fly- fishing. I think this is the first of it’s kind because its a journal produced by me, and written by me.
Its just me passing on my 40 years of knowledge, experience and in the field adventures. I suppose many out there would scoff at this, and I must admit to liking a bit of writer variety in my fishing magazines. However there are many long term anglers that leave this earth with so much knowledge it really is a travesty of the learning ideal. I just want to pass on my knowledge and promote fly-fishing to the utmost.
So I’ve set out to give the beginner a helping hand, to push that angler thats finding it hard and just about to give up, or hopefully show the experienced fly-fishermen another insight or tiny bit of information that may be the last piece to the puzzle.
I love to teach- not only the technical and location aspects of fly-fishing, but as the title of this magazine suggests it’s the great place of nature where fly-fishermen abound, trying to deceive the overlord of the rivers and lakes leaving only there foot prints as they go.
The make up of the magazine may change in the future but from the outset it will contain a technical fly-fishing article, a location article, fly tying article and a fly-fishing story.
It’s my hope that you the fly-fishing angler will learn a great deal from my writing and being Bimonthly and free of charge, you can’t get better, Enjoy.


MAYFLY OF OUR I


INLAND LAKES
CANON D5 MARK II - 250-F-16 RING FLASH


There can be no better time than springtime; mornings are milder, with that first breath of air -smelling of earthy rain. The insects are stirring, and amongst them the fly fishermen conjures up memories of last seasons hatches and catches.
By mid morning the sun warms the day and the angler will sit and observe the fishing area. Homework from coinciding days, and the knowledge that a high-pressure system with wide isobars surrounds the area producing light wind shall secure the makings for a successful day.
With his rod at the ready he will slowly walk the bank observing every inch of water available to him. Looking for any sign from nature, for he knows that at any time an insect will appear turning most strong willed zealot fly- fishermen into shaking, babbling, novices.
Most readers already know what insect I’m talking about, but for others the insect in question is the Mayfly. That beautiful creature that turns trout into feeding machines and fishermen into raving fanatics.
The word mayfly means; to live for a day, but it should mean: “take it easy, be patient and observe” because to be successful requires these elements.
From the moment you start there is no need to hurry; undoubtedly most would have heard the term, the gentlemen hours. Well the hatches don’t start till around 10:00 or 11:00 am, so that gives you time to enjoy the lush land, and picturesque scenery that surrounds your fishing location. Yes! Nothing can be better than fly-fishing.
There are many different species of mayfly in Victoria but the main one within the spring that hatches out in big numbers is the Atalophlebia Australis. Or more commonly know as the March Brown, (a term given due to the mayfly of the Northern hemisphere hatching in march), but here in Victoria, September, October, and November
HE HUNT
The term, “think like a fish” is a good one, but I like to add, imagine the water in front of you as if you were swimming around on the bottom. What you’d see in regards to the first mayfly movement would be nymphs brown in colour, scurrying about in readiness to ascend to the surface. The lake’s marauding trout will follow and devour them with ease as they sight their slow snake like movement. The sighting by the fly fisherman won’t happen until the nymphs have ascended to the surface and the searching trout engulfs the nymph creating a surface boil, which is what we can term the first rise form.
THE EMERGING NYMPH
This is when you take out of your fly box an emerging nymph pattern. There are many patterns to choose from, but as long as it’s the right size, shape and colour, with the ability to sit right in the surface film, you’ll be in business. My favourite imitation is dark brown, in a size 12 hook constructed from seals fur with the inclusion of a few turns of hackle around the thorax. (See fly fact box).
Trout when feeding on mayfly are constantly moving about taking an emerger here and there, so try if you can to work out it’s direction after taking an emerger.
Once achieved cast your pattern to the area and just let it sit, if you’re casting into the wind make sure you retrieve slack line that is floating back towards you, so that if the trout takes your fly you will have a solid connection on the strike.
Emerging nymph patterns like dry flies require you to wait until the trout is in the downward position before you strike. On windy days or where the surface has a fair amount of wave action you will also need to have your fly line and leader floating high to combat any drag. Even when this is achieved you won’t have a 100% drag less drift, the only time this is achieved is when loch style fly fishing out of boats, due to the boat drifting at the same rate as the water surface.










THE DUN
The dun stage is where it breaks free from its nymphal shuck, looking like a nymph with wings. The species' of mayfly at most lakes as stated before is Leptophlebiidae, where the dun is termed the Lamba dun, it has a distinct upside down y shape pattern in its wing which is a clear identification mark.
The first hatches of the dun usually dry their wings untouched to then escape to the nearest lakeside bushes as the trout are more keyed onto the emerging nymph. But it doesn’t take long for the trout to notice the greater numbers of duns inducing the trout to change their minds.
There can be no better time than springtime; mornings are milder, with that first breath of air -smelling of earthy rain. The insects are stirring, and amongst them the fly fishermen conjures up memories of last seasons hatches and catches.
By mid morning the sun warms the day and the angler will sit and observe the fishing area. Homework from coinciding days, and the knowledge that a high-pressure system with wide isobars surrounds the area producing light wind shall secure the makings for a successful day.
With his rod at the ready he will slowly walk the bank observing every inch of water available to him. Looking for any sign from nature, for he knows that at any time an insect will appear turning most strong willed zealot fly- fishermen into shaking, babbling, novices.
Most readers already know what insect I’m talking about, but for others the insect in question is the Mayfly. That beautiful creature that turns trout into feeding machines and fishermen into raving fanatics.
The word mayfly means; to live for a day, but it should mean: “take it easy, be patient and observe” because to be successful requires these elements.
From the moment you start there is no need to hurry; undoubtedly most would have heard the term, the gentlemen hours. Well the hatches don’t start till around 10:00 or 11:00 am, so that gives you time to enjoy the lush land, and picturesque scenery that surrounds your fishing location. Yes! Nothing can be better than fly-fishing.
There are many different species of mayfly in Victoria but the main one within the spring that hatches out in big numbers is the Atalophlebia Australis. Or more commonly know as the March Brown, (a term given due to the mayfly of the Northern hemisphere hatching in march), but here in Victoria, September, October, and November
THE SPINNER.
If ever there was an insect, or stage of insect that needs the right weather conditions then the mayfly spinner is it. Days that are mild to warm with a light wind will always produce spinner activity.
On most lakes the greatest numbers will be found around the shallow edges.
A fly fisherman that sits back and intently watches will witness hovering flame orange insects mating and laying their eggs onto smooth glass like water. The trout will cruise along the bottom searching and at any moment will either gently sip an egg layer, or with a few flicks of its tail, leap through the water with mouth agape, intercepting the aerial flyer.
It’s at this time that the fly fisherman need only take one fly from his box; the Macquarie red, I know I’ve always mention the Macquarie red in numerous other articles I’ve written, but no other fly comes near it.
Its size is perfect, its colour true to life, and its added body hackle floats it so high it sometimes fools trout into believing that it is just hovering above the surface.
All that is required by the fly fishermen is to accurately and gently land the Macquarie onto the smooth glass like water, then wait for the disappearance
There are occasions on mayfly lakes when spinners can be found on windy days. Some lakes by way of nature have trees around their shoreline. This creates windbreaks to small areas, forming calm flat-water conditions that are dependent on wind direction and strength.


SPENT SPINNERS
This is the stage where the male and female spinners die and lay with their wings and legs outstretched in the spent position. Even though you will find spent spinners at all periods of the day. I find first light to be the most productive especially when you know the night before had great numbers of the mating and egg laying spinners. The edges of the lake on the windward side should be your destination, keep low, watch, and wait, and don’t enter the water. Fly selection can be a number of patterns, but I favour the Rumpf Spinner due to its perfect imitation of the natural.
When you sight a big trout cruising in water barely covering its back, with every spot on its side showing. You’re bound to wittiness the trout attack and in the blink of an eye your imitation is gone, only then will you realise the excitement of spent spinner fly-fishing.
MORE THAN JUST ONE SPECIES
On many of our mayfly lakes there are different species other than Leptophlebiidae.
One noted mayfly is from the family of Caenis, which hatches out at the same time as the bigger mayfly on some, but not all lakes. Thankfully when they hatch together the lakes trout target the bigger mayfly in all its stages. The reason why trout do this in my mind is due to the size of the mayfly, providing a bigger mouthful.
Then you have those days where Caenis are the only mayfly hatching and things become decidedly more difficult.
Identification of the small Caenis mayfly is easy with its few different colours but mainly due to its small size; a hook in the 16/18 class is needed.
CONCLUSION
Mayfly fly-fishing in our lakes is only one dimension; there are the rivers and streams that can’t be covered here, but let me tell you this
Every time I fly fish our Victorian mayfly lakes, and like when I fish the rivers, I totally enjoy it like nothing else, from the moment I set out on my fishing day, till the moment I return.
It’s a day that’s full of a joy within the bigger picture, that’s impossible to describe, only my fellow fly fisher will understand these feelings- When the Mayfly hatch!




Mayfly Imitations Fact Box
Size- 16/14/12-
Deep Sinking Nymph Patterns
Phensant tail nymph Copper and John Weighted seals fur nymph Gold bead head nymph
Size- 16/14/12-
Emerging Nymphs
Seals fur emerger Smith emerger Possum emerger Poly winged emerger
Size- 16/14/12-
Mayfly Dun Patterns
Highland dun Klinkhammer Cripple dun March brown Para dun
Cahill quill
Size- 16/14/12-
Spinner patterns
Macquarie red Orange Quill Compara spinner Hackle tip spinner Cocky spinner
Size- 16/14/12-
Spent Spinner Patterns
Rumpf spinner Poly wing spinner
Quill body spinner


Mayfly Imitation Water Depth Chart


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