It’s late season and small dry fly angling is an afternoon event on one of my favorite prairie tailwater rivers. The predictable mayfly hatch at this time of year is Baetis/Olives. On the unique river I have been visiting, however, the Pale Morning Dun’s (PMD’s) of summer often come-off through September and even into October, along with the Olives and sometimes a few Mahoganies. Each river has its story…
Some images of trout caught this October, on summertime PMD impressions.
trout on dries 
Gotta love those late season bonuses. Fat fish too!
Jim: You bet! I hope to get out a few more times. You and Norman are enjoying the Mo! I couldn’t get down this yr. My angling friend(dog) is struggling with a terminal condition. Late stage. Only 7.5 yrs old… far too young…
bob
Hi Bob,
PMDs in October! Who would’ve thunk that? If the river doesn’t freeze, maybe they will hatch all winter! Too bad the river closes soon.
Looking at your fly box filled with light-coloured dries reminded me of something the late John Betts, the “King of Synthetics,” shared with me in the late ‘80s while guiding him on the Bow. We stopped at a spot where there were some nice trout rising during a PMD hatch. John opened his fly box, and it was filled with various mayfly patterns, tied in various sizes, using only white-coloured materials for the tails, bodies, wings, and hackle. He pulled out some waterproof felt markers and within seconds coloured the materials to match the naturals. After this, he went and caught some fish. Later, John explained that by tying his mayfly patterns in various sizes, using white materials, he could match any mayfly, simply by using felt markers. I thought it was a great idea.
Good to see Abby on the water with you.
Vic
Hi Vic: Great story about John Betts and synthetics. I remember him probably from articles in various Fly Fishing Magazines back in the day. Very cool that you guided him. After reading your comment I looked him up. Very creative person. Designed original flies, built fly reels by hand, bamboo rods, etc. He hand wrote( hand printed) many of his books with an ink pen and did all the illustrations too. He eventually came to the conclusion that fly fishing was about fooling the fish, and that the fight wasn’t needed and tied some flies with no barb and even a hook bend. Kind of similar in this view to a famous angler from Alberta that you told me about.
Anyway, thanks for the comment on John Betts. He kind of reminds me of Gary Lafontaine in terms of his creativity and interest in the sport.
Hope all is well.
Bob