By now fishing is going full steam and the cold, snowy winter quietly fades from memory. The early spring Skwala hatch was a wonderful way to break the ice, so to speak, into our 2010 season and. with a mild runoff. we’re already seeing some early summer bugs as are the trout. The large bugs this time of year are a pleasure to fish and tie and the size 22, 6x fall season can take its sweet time getting here.

Among these early summer hatches we’re fortunate to have a good Green Drake population in the Bitterroot. There’s no doubt that imitating the adult, high floating dun is most popular but don’t forget the emergent stage. The bugs are very vulnerable during this moment of hesitation prior to full emergence and, no surprise, the trout know this as well. So, here’s a pattern that’s worked well for me over the years that’s simple to tie and effective. I fish it on its own (hard to see) and as a dropper using a dun or other high floating bug as an indicator (easy to see). Give it a try and I’m sure it’ll become part of your late spring arsenal. Good tying and good fishing.

Hook: #12 dry fly

Thread: 6/0 Olive

Trailing shuck: Zelon, brown

Ribbing: 3/0 yellow thread

Abdomen: Superfine, light olive

Wing Pad: Black foam, doubled back
to form pad

Legs: 3 turns of grizzly hackle dyed bright yellow, trimmed flat on the bottom.

Monroe Leech
Submitted By Bob Pearcy

Here in Montana most fly-fishing attention focuses on our world-class rivers. Often overlooked are the outstanding stillwaters within a two-hour or so drive of the Bitterroot Valley such as Georgetown Lake, Browns Lake or Clark Canyon Reservoir. Somewhat further are the outstanding lakes on the Blackfooot Reservation near Browing and those near Yellowstone such as Hebgen, Quake, Cliff and Wade lakes. In all of these stillwaters, leeches are an important trout food especially early in the spring and in the fall.

The Monroe leech was developed by Mike Monroe, a northern California fly fishing guide and falls into the category of micro leeches now popular in the famous lakes of British Columbia. These are small leeches tied on a size 10 hook or smaller as opposed to the 2-4 inch long leeches often used for steelhead. The tapered marabou body and tail of the Monroe leech provides lots of movement simulating the undulating movement and profile of a leech. The classic way of fishing them is near the bottom or just above the weeds with an intermediate sinking line. Use a hand-twist retrieve that moves the fly 4-6 inches with a pause in between. However, they can also be fished right off the bottom under an indicator with a chronomid pattern as a dropper fly. After allowing the flies to sink for a minute or two, retrieve with a very slow hand twist with frequent pauses. A little wave action is helpful. I have not tried this technique myself but it is reported to be a very effective in British Columbia.