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Potomac River mayflies

Good Information 
4K views 7 replies 6 participants last post by  chrisdetweiler 
#1 ·
I was reading the freshwater DNR report and saw good things. I quoted it below,

John Mullican sent us this report from the upper Potomac River. Flows in the Potomac River continue to be below average for this time of year. Insect hatches have been heavy with several species of mayflies hatching nearly every evening. During a particularly strong hatch over the weekend I watched smallmouth bass slowly rising and sipping mayflies off the surface like trout. Bass of all sizes were taking advantage of the easy meal, including a number of 12 - 15 inch fish. I was a bit surprised to find that a small surface lure went completely untouched, but a suspending jerkbait would frequently draw a strike. By dusk thousands of mayflies covered the surface and the boat ride back to the ramp would have been more pleasant with a face shield or goggles!

 
#2 ·
ST,

I noticed that also. Given your extensive knowledge of the regional fauna, what hatches might these be on the river, and how far is "upper" in context of this report? I have seen many caddis and occasional mayflies on river between DC and Seneca, but other than white flies in early July I have not heard of spring hatches being significant events on the river. Could this be a function of low flows this spring that they are even noticible events wrt smallmouth feeding? The comment about no action on a surface lure vice a suspended jerkbait might suggest the smallies were not so much feeding on the hatch but keying on baitfish which were on the hatch. I have heard/read this it is often a good tactic for smallies when hatches are on to fish streamers/Clousers etc., especially for larger fish.
 
#3 · (Edited)
It's probably sulfurs and similar mayflies. There will be thousands of them. Ive seen it before. The fish will swim through the sea of spent bugs and eat .But a streamer just below the surface is probably the better way to go.

Upper Potomac for Mullican is Washington County but those bugs hatch well in Montgomer County portion too.
 
#4 · (Edited)
There was an incredible hatch of sulphurs on the Gunpowder yesterday as well. The fish were taking them just below the surface as emergers, and since the nymph stage is darker than the adult, something like a GRHE fuzzy nymph seems to work well, at least they did yesterday. Good stuff, Salmo, and neat to hear about the Potomac hatch.
 
#6 ·
This might be a result of the lower flows and warm temps. Living in Harrisburg, my home stream is the Susquehanna. Big fish tend to stay near the bottom when the water is cooler and running high. A good friend of mine lives on the river north of Harrisburg. In fact, I sold him the home. In any event, he witnessed good surface activity this spring during grannom caddis and sulphur hatches. The Susquehanna has some issues, but it is still a bug factory. He went out one afternoon during the grannom and caught a few hogs on top. I fish for smallies during specific mayfly hatches later in the season. My best smallmouth to date was caught on a hexegenia mayfly pattern. I've done well fishing the light cahill, whitefly and hex hatches on the susquehanna and its tribs. I've also hit some mid fall hatches on the river and done well on slate drakes and bwos. My experience is that when the flows are low and the hatches strong, the big fish in the river are looking up. Otherwise, the big smallies are tight on the bottom of the river. I've posted this photo before, but thought I would share again. I caught this on a Hexagenia dry fly.
 

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