Saturday, April 2, 2016

Fishing the Salamander Hatch

I went to toss streamers this morning in the rain. I did so for a few reasons.... the conditions will be absolute garbage for a few days so I had to take what was given to me, and I had a hunch. In the spring large mole salamanders, most notably spotted salamanders, migrate to vernal pools on warm stormy nights to spawn. Last night fit the bill perfectly. I have heard of fish being caught that coughed up salamanders, or that had salamanders in their stomach. I was sure that some salamanders would have to cross the river and undoubtedly if there were enough of them it would create a bit of a feeding frenzy.
I got to the stream, put on an articulated streamer, and caught a nice brook trout. This is what it spit up:

I love it when a plan comes together. Almost every fish I caught had a full stomach, and a little gentle feeling identified the source. It was all salamanders. The best flies were a tan and brown Boogie Man and a black Cheech Leech, just as I expected. I didn't catch too many fish because the front slowed the last hour of fishing, but I got seven or eight and that was enough for a short rainy day outing!

6 comments:

  1. Good call on the salamanders! Reading your blog makes me want to start tying bigger flies. Well done.

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    1. Big flies work. One that I used yesterday was 6 inches long.

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  2. Very interesting facts about the salamanders!! Nice job!!

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    1. Thanks,
      I've been fascinated with amphibians ever since I was very young.

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  3. Those stocked brookies soon learn what real food is.

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  4. WOW, all those years in the water gave you a great education on all the critters. Your streamers did the job! NICE!
    Tie, fish, write and photo on...

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