An overview of the season and the hatches
on Kamloops and area lakes

(We have over 200 lakes in our immediate area) The hatches on our Kamloops lakes are quite predictable, usually within one or two days. Let's start with ice off in April on Lake X and follow the hatches throughout the season. We can expect a little Boatman activity at ice off, but usually it is the meat and potatoes of the invertebrate menu - Shrimp, Leeches and Dragons that produce early results. Lake X then goes into turn over and is not fishable for approximately two weeks. As the lake clears the water warms and the Chironomid (Midge) hatch begins. This is the longest and strongest of all hatches lasting through April, May part of June and re-occurring over the entire season. Chironomids are especially important as they are eaten as Larvae (Bloodworms), Pupae and on the surface as adults. Chironomids provide some of our best days on the water, we fish the pupa with floating lines, long leaders and at times with strike indicators.

Next on the menu - Callibaetis Mayflies occur in late May early June. Like little sailboats they appear on the waters surface, as if by magic, and the way the trout make them disappear is magical as well.

June is "The Dry-Fly Month". On some days you will find Caddis (Sedge) in the morning and Mays in the afternoon. If Mays are serene sailboats then Caddis' are deranged speedboats as they skitter across the water, drying their wings, this "wild" dry-fly action lasts through June and into July.

July warms the water and Damsels begin their lake-to-shore migration, followed by their larger cousins the Dragons of August. I fish a lake that has a great Mayfly hatch in July with the action all on the nymph!

August, contrary to popular believe, is not the slow month but the Hot Month both in weather and in fishing.

We fish two lakes that produce equally well during August. These lakes have a phenomenal BOMBER  hatch.  What is a Bomber you ask?  Well, they are extremely large chironomids -- so large that when the adults lift off the water they take on the appearance of a B-52 Bomber lumbering down the runway.

The pupa are immense -- typically  #10 2X's, and believe it or not some #8's as well.The trout can't help themselves! These huge pupa are the full meal deal to them and man do they woof them down. The takes are far from subtle!

So think about August -- Hot weather and Hot fishing!"

September and October provide not only excellent angling but also cool nights and warm sunny days. As in the spring, storms can come quickly so raingear and warmer clothing is a must.

September finds cooler water and a secondary Chironomid hatch, as the frosts become more frequent 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 water, 2 to10 feet, we use floating lines and bead-headed patterns. Bloodworms - the larval stage of the chironomid provides some banner "Big Fish" days through October and into November. Fall fishing can be defined as "The Big Fish Season". There you have it - The Season!