Spring is here...

That special time of the year when Winter finally fades away is officially here. With temperatures rising, insects hatching, and trout becoming increasingly active, the Spring season is a special time for fishermen on the Chattooga River. On the last few trips to the river, there has been some terrific dry fly action, with many of the fish locked in on a variety of hatching caddis and mayflies.

Over the next few weeks there will be some important hatches to look for and keep in mind when fishing the Chattooga. Here are the must know bugs for April...

1. Caddisflies... The majority of these this time of year will be tan, grey, or cream colored. Often times they will be seen hovering, skipping, or skirting along the water which drives the fish nuts. A deadly tactic when you see keyed in on this hatch is to "skitter" a size 14 or 16 Elk Hair Caddis across the potential holding area. This can draw explosive strikes on the surface, and is often times more effective than a dead drifted version.

2. Mayflies... The two predominent species that will be on the water throughout April can include Quill Gordon's, Blue Quill's, and March Browns. The majority of these hatch during the warmest part of the day, typically from about noon until mid afternoon. Try to match the hatch and dead drift the cooresponding adult version with a nymph or emerger dropper.