How to Read a Hatch Chart
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| Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
Hatch Rating:
The hatch rating is provided to give anglers an idea as to the availability of an insect
or what the trout are most likely feeding on. It is not a rating of importance. An insect
with a one * rating may be more important than anything else at a particular time of
the year, month, day or hour. A ***** rating simply means there usually are a lot of
the insects available. This doesn't necessarily mean that the insect is available any
and everywhere on the stream. It is available only where the insect's preferred
habitat exists on that stream. If the trout are feeding on an insect with a * star rating
and it is the most available insects at the time, it is very important. What is
important is what is hatching at the time you are there fishing.
Concentrations:
On any given stream there may be hundreds of different species of aquatic insects
that exist in some quantity. Some species may occur only in certain isolated areas
of the stream. We are listing what we believe are the most prevalent and important
hatches that anglers should be concerned with. Although the density of any hatch
can vary drastically, the hatches are noted as ”dense, normal or sparse” in order
that you have a better idea of what to expect.
Stream Habitat:
The species we list are usually not concentrated throughout the entire stream, only
in the portions of the stream that offer the proper habitat. For example, if a certain
stonefly hatch is shown on a river that is thirty miles long, don’t expect to find them
at the lower end of the river in pools of slow moving water unsuitable for stoneflies.
Also, you should be aware that hatches could progress upstream from day to day,
especially on those steams with steep declinations, so they may occur at different
sections of water from day to day.
Weather Variations:
Remember that seasonal weather conditions can change the dates that hatches
actually occur from the predicted time periods the charts indicate. An unusually cold
year may delay a hatch a week or two, in some cases, even longer. However, the
sequence in which the different specie hatch will generally occur in the same order.
Preparation:
Prior to fishing any given stream, you should make a list of the insects and other
trout food shown on the hatch guides along with the recommended flies that imitate
them for the time period you intend to fish. Make some allowances for the indicated
time period, just in case. In other words, if a certain insect is shown to start
hatching on March 1 and you are fishing February 26th, list it.
Pre-Hatch Importance:
Do not forget that the charts show the predicted “hatch” dates. Normally, the nymph
or larvae, and pupa stages of the insects are available for trout to eat well in
advance to those dates. In fact, in many cases, depending on the particular
species, the insects are much more important to the angler prior to the hatch than
they are after the hatch occurs.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
The hatch rating is provided to give anglers an idea as to the availability of an insect
or what the trout are most likely feeding on. It is not a rating of importance. An insect
with a one * rating may be more important than anything else at a particular time of
the year, month, day or hour. A ***** rating simply means there usually are a lot of
the insects available. This doesn't necessarily mean that the insect is available any
and everywhere on the stream. It is available only where the insect's preferred
habitat exists on that stream. If the trout are feeding on an insect with a * star rating
and it is the most available insects at the time, it is very important. What is
important is what is hatching at the time you are there fishing.
Concentrations:
On any given stream there may be hundreds of different species of aquatic insects
that exist in some quantity. Some species may occur only in certain isolated areas
of the stream. We are listing what we believe are the most prevalent and important
hatches that anglers should be concerned with. Although the density of any hatch
can vary drastically, the hatches are noted as ”dense, normal or sparse” in order
that you have a better idea of what to expect.
Stream Habitat:
The species we list are usually not concentrated throughout the entire stream, only
in the portions of the stream that offer the proper habitat. For example, if a certain
stonefly hatch is shown on a river that is thirty miles long, don’t expect to find them
at the lower end of the river in pools of slow moving water unsuitable for stoneflies.
Also, you should be aware that hatches could progress upstream from day to day,
especially on those steams with steep declinations, so they may occur at different
sections of water from day to day.
Weather Variations:
Remember that seasonal weather conditions can change the dates that hatches
actually occur from the predicted time periods the charts indicate. An unusually cold
year may delay a hatch a week or two, in some cases, even longer. However, the
sequence in which the different specie hatch will generally occur in the same order.
Preparation:
Prior to fishing any given stream, you should make a list of the insects and other
trout food shown on the hatch guides along with the recommended flies that imitate
them for the time period you intend to fish. Make some allowances for the indicated
time period, just in case. In other words, if a certain insect is shown to start
hatching on March 1 and you are fishing February 26th, list it.
Pre-Hatch Importance:
Do not forget that the charts show the predicted “hatch” dates. Normally, the nymph
or larvae, and pupa stages of the insects are available for trout to eat well in
advance to those dates. In fact, in many cases, depending on the particular
species, the insects are much more important to the angler prior to the hatch than
they are after the hatch occurs.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
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Abrams Creek Fishing Methods Marine Food Species
Anthony Creek Forney Creek Mayflies Spring
Big Creek Freestone Streams Midges Stoneflies
Beginners Recommended Gear Misc N.C. Streams Straight Creek
Caddisflies Hatches Misc Tenn. Streams Streams
Casting Hazel Creek Middle Prong Little Pigeon River Summer Season
Cataloochee Creek Headwater Stream Middle Prong Little River Terrestrials
Cosby Creek Caddisfly Imitations Noland Creek Twenty Mile Creek
Deep Creek Mayfly Imitations Oconaluftee River Wild Trout
Midge Imitations Other Aquatic Insects Winter Season
Eagel Creek Home PH West Prong Little Pigeon River
East Prong Little River Stonefly Imitations Presentation West Prong Little River
Fall Season Streamers Raven Fork Spring Hatch Chart
About Us Terrestrial Imitations Reading Hatch Charts Summer Hatch Chart
Recommended Flies Links Seasons Winter Hatch Chart
Fall Hatch Chart
Abrams Creek Fishing Methods Marine Food Species
Anthony Creek Forney Creek Mayflies Spring
Big Creek Freestone Streams Midges Stoneflies
Beginners Recommended Gear Misc N.C. Streams Straight Creek
Caddisflies Hatches Misc Tenn. Streams Streams
Casting Hazel Creek Middle Prong Little Pigeon River Summer Season
Cataloochee Creek Headwater Stream Middle Prong Little River Terrestrials
Cosby Creek Caddisfly Imitations Noland Creek Twenty Mile Creek
Deep Creek Mayfly Imitations Oconaluftee River Wild Trout
Midge Imitations Other Aquatic Insects Winter Season
Eagel Creek Home PH West Prong Little Pigeon River
East Prong Little River Stonefly Imitations Presentation West Prong Little River
Fall Season Streamers Raven Fork Spring Hatch Chart
About Us Terrestrial Imitations Reading Hatch Charts Summer Hatch Chart
Recommended Flies Links Seasons Winter Hatch Chart
Fall Hatch Chart