Crazy caddis hatch – story from Grimsa river
Foto: Bjørnar Hansen
Fishspot writer Bjørnar Hansen made his way to the fly fishing zone in the Grimsa river this weekend, and few fishermen know this river better than him. He had quite the fishing experience this weekend as an early hatch of caddis flies brought the fish up in numbers.
Tomorrow we have a full report on waters and conditions in Trysil, Vanggrøfta, Rena, Glomma og Gudbrandsdalslågen. Meanwhile enjoy this story from Bjørnars trip to the Grimsa river.
– The water level was low compared to prior seasons this time of the year, but with last nights rain the river was rising. This also made the river murky. This is rarely a good spell on the fishing. The wind was cold, but i went off to the river with low expectations but maybe some Baetis Rhodani mayflies wold appear. There was not a bug in sight in the beginning, but towards the evening some mayflies started to appear. The harsh northern wind did not do me any favors and i was cold. The sparse hatch was not enough to bring the fish up but i did land two grayling on nymph and one on dry.
Grimsa og Rondane
In the late evening things started to liven and a few hatches of Baetis mayflies started bringing the fish up with frequent rises. Mostly careful sips in the water film, but none of the mayflies where being picked off. After a number of imitations having done me no good, i could only watch as the rises where getting more frequent and more aggressive. Hard water spraying attacks on the surface, fish rolling forcefully in the film, and fish leaping clean out of the water. It was boiling in the pool in front of me. Then it dawned on me. It’s early in the season for this to unfold, but it was surely the first caddis hatch of the season.
I was not prepared for the hatch happening this early, and i had not brought with me my box of caddis flies. Luckely, due to sloppy sorting in my flybox in my late season fishing trips, I had one caddis imitation in my mayfly box.
And what a night i had in stall. I had nine trout in the net, lost three, before I manged to snag my fly off on a pine tree that had creeped up on me.
More after picture
Despite of my mess-up with the pine tree, I was contempt with the catch and with the smallest fish at 0,8 kg and the biggest at 1,5 kg, the size was not bad either. This is not a regular event in this river.
One tip for the season; In Folldal Municipality and the areas around Dovre mountain the trees are experiencing a massive attack of the “bjørkemålerlarve” caterpillar this season. You are well advised to bring imitations of these tasty snacks, as the trout can get very focused and selective on them. Especially on strong wind, something that occur frequently here.
Bjørnar Hansen
