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New England Hatches
By Dick Babine
The following is my personal opinion concerning the sequence of hatches and how you can simplify the process. Remember the following:
The one insect that will Hatch nearly year round is the Midge. As the lake clears the water warms and the Midge (Chironomid) hatch begins. This is the longest and strongest of all hatches lasting through April, May and part of June. This should tell you that it is one of the very first imitations to use in the spring. Another insect that is always around in the Nymphal stage is the Stonefly along with several Mayfly and Caddisfly species that have a life cycle of more than a year. Early fishing should include Boatman, Egg Patterns, Shrimp, Leeches and Dragonfly Nymphs.
May is most definitely Mayfly month and remember that the early Mayflies are all the same color and roughly the same size. Hint: Blue-Winged Olive and this species are multi-brooded with several generations' possible within a single season.
June brings the addition of the Caddisfly and one can enjoy a Caddis Hatch in the morning followed by a Mayfly Hatch in the afternoon.
July and August bring the real warm weather and the need to go deep with large Nymphal offerings, Dropper rigs using the combination of both Dry Midge and a dropper of Bloodworm. Near the shoreline and any area of aquatic vegetation you want to consider the use of Dragon and Damselfly offerings.
September finds cooler water and a secondary Chironomid hatch, as the weather gets even cooler and the first frosts occur, Water Boatman mating and egg laying flights begin. Later in September and October finds a return to the basic food chain, shrimp, leeches and dragons, but in very shallow areas of the water column. Then the last is the same as the first with the use of both Bloodworms and Roe Bugs during the months of both September and October.
| Hatch & Match | Emergence | Time | Hook Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paracapnia (Stonefly) Little Black Stone |
March 1 | AM & PM | 18 |
| Baetis Tricaudatus (Mayfly) Blue Wing Olive Dun Rusty Spinner |
March 15 | 10a.m. to 6p.m. | 16-20 |
| Callibaetis (Mayfly) Speckle-Winged Dun Speckled-Winged Spinner |
April 1 | A.M. & P.M. | 14 - 16 |
| Strophopteryx Fasciata (Stonefly) Early Brown Stonefly |
April 10 | Afternoon | 14 |
| Paraleptophlebia (Mayfly) Dark Blue Quill Dark Brown Spinner |
April 10 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Heaviest 2 - 4 p.m. Spinner 4 - 7 p.m. |
18 |
| Brachycentrus Solomoni (Caddisfly) Granno |
April 12 | A.M. & P.M. | 10 |
| Epeorus Pleuralis (Mayfly) Quill Gordon Dun Red Quill Spinner |
April 18 | 1 - 3 p.m. Spinner 11 - 2 p.m. |
14 |
| Rhithrogena Jejuna (Mayfly) Dark Quill Gordon Dun Quill Gordon Spinner |
April 18 | 1 - 3 p.m. | 14 |
| Siphloplecton Basale (Mayfly) Great Speckled Olive Dun Great Speckled Spinner |
April 18 | Early Afternoon | 10 or 12 |
| Brachycentrus Numerrosus (Caddisfly) Grannom |
April 23 | A.M. & P.M. | 12 |
| Ephemerella Subvaria (Mayfly) Male Red Quill Dun Female Hendrickson Dun Spinner Red Quill |
April 23 | Late a.m. to early p.m. | 12 - 16 |
| Leptophlebia Cupida (Mayfly) Black Quill Dun Early Brown Spinner |
April 25 | 2 - 4 p.m. Spinner 1 - 6 p.m. |
12 - 14 |
