Boiling Waters

August 2, 2018

If you’ve been on the river much during late July and early August and even into September over the years, there’s probably a good chance that you’ve seen and experienced the trico hatch. Tiny bugs come off the water and fall back into it, fish start looking up, and rises are happening so often that it looks like the waters are boiling. You might even ask yourself, “Is that a riffle right there?”, and it’ll actually just turn out to be a pod of rising fish. For many, the trico hatch is one of the most special hatches of the year and anglers wait in anticipation for the water to be serenely blanketed in spinners only to be severely disrupted by the mouths of hungry trout. However, tricos can also be one of the most frustrating hatches of the year due to the technicality of it and how decisive and picky the fish get.

So, what are tricos anyways? Tricos are basically really small mayflies. They are typically imitated with flies ranging in hook sizes of #18-26 and is the only time of year where North Park fishermen dust off their 5x and 6x spools of tippet. If you would like to read more about the science and entomology of tricos check out a blog written by NPA guide and manager, Scott Graham here: http://northparkanglers.com/tricos/ . Regardless of whether or not you’re a trico hatch connoisseur or avoider, it’s a special event to see and experience. If you have questions about the trico hatch feel free to stop in the shop and chat with us, or call us at 970-723-4215.

Written by: Taylor Martin

No, it’s not a grainy photo…and that’s not foam on the water…it’s the trico hatch!