Early Skwala Eater

I have a tendency to start fishing Skwala Dry patterns earlier than I probably should be able to get away with.  This time of year my most productive patterns are usually small midge pupa patterns and my preferred method of fishing them is in a hopper dropper type set up.  I will use a parachute adams or some other adult midge or mayfly pattern on occasion but I usually look for any excuse to use a bigger fly when using this set up.  The last couple weeks I have noticed a lot of Skwala nymphs as I turn over a few rocks on the river and although it is a little early for them to be hatching in any significant numbers I went ahead today and started fishing a bullethead skwala pattern followed my the old reliable Zebra Midge. 

Last year the first fish I managed to catch on a Skwala dry fly was on February 17th, so we are right in that time frame this year.  However I was not real hopeful that I would be able to fool a trout any earlier than that date, so I was content to use the skwala as my indicator for the midge pupa dropper.  As I prospected a nice little trough between two rocks I was not surprised when my indicator fly dipped and I set the hook on a nice little brown that had taken the dropper.  I quickly landed it and set up to get another drift in that same slick.  On my next cast I did get a little surprise.  I flipped up in the center of the narrow chute again and an eager little 10 inch fish mashed the Skwala.  Not a big fish by any means but the first sign of a fish looking up and willing to go for the bigger meal.  This may be my indication that the Skwala hatch may hit a little early this year.  We will see.

Not a monster by any means but he is the first Skwala muncher I have come across this year