If You Live To Fish, You Must Check Rene' Harrop on ALL of These - PMDS, Spinners, Duns, Nymphs and Emergers ...

Pondering PMDs, by Rene Harrop: "Rene' Harrop

The Master's thoughts on techniques and tactics for these small ghosts of seasons past.

PMDs | Spinners | Duns | Nymphs | Emergers


Winter creeps into the high Rockies like a pale ghost who will linger for months to haunt the souls of those who live to fish. Through gray days that can seem endless to a confined fisherman, its frosted breath whispers a chill reminder that snow, measured in yards and not inches, is the price paid for rivers abundant with large trout and healthy insect populations.


For anglers and trout, PMDs signal another season in full swing on Idaho's Henry's Fork. The dependable hatches, rising fish, and tight lines of a winter daydream become reality.

For a snowbound fly tier, the annual ritual of restocking for the next season involves far more than simply filling depleted fly boxes. Each intimate creation is a functional translation of observation and experience, each vacancy a record of encounter. Together, they comprise a chronicle of events that measures previous success and provides guidance for future effort.
As each fly takes shape, an image of the actual insect comes into the consciousness and sparks a pondering of its value within the tier's experience. It is here that conclusions are drawn and philosophies formed that will determine how you choose to imitate that particular insect and the techniques with which you fish that imitation. Like summer, they seem to arrive on the warm June winds that signal the arrival of another season. From that point, until autumn snows dust the continental spine, they will make a daily appearance at some location on the river I call home, the Henry's Fork. In the late 1960s they were coined Pale Morning Duns by the notable angling team of Doug Swisher and Carl Richards, but n"


Rene' Harrop has really capture the imagination and stirred the "fisher" in your soul. Give a read. You'll be glad you did ...

Autumn Fly Fishing Worth Experiencing - Lived and Written by a Dedicated Fisher

Blue-winged Olives: "



Rene' Harrop

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Fall is Bonnie's favorite season and Baetis is her favorite hatch. It is during this time of complete freedom on the water and independence from her husband that she almost always lands her best fish of the year. Her crowning achievement as an angler occurred in mid-October when she stalked, fooled, and landed a 23-inch hen on 6X and a #22 Baetis dry fly. Equally impressive was that she got the job done with a half dozen spectators coaching from the observation deck at the upper boundary of Harriman State Park. Although visibly marked by years of surviving in the wild, the great fish was strong, healthy, and close to six pounds.


Despite late-season low water conditions and their small size, Baetis reliably attract large trout to feed on the surface.

Western Baetis range in size from #18 to #24. They live in most waters and hatch for much of the year. However, in the cooler months they begin to dominate the action, and eventually they become the main game. With midges as the lone exception, Baetis represent the only hatching activity when the days become short and low temperatures prohibit other insects from emerging. With little or no competition for attention, Baetis attract trout growing urgently aggressive before the lean days of winter.


Baetis dun.

Fish migrate to winter habitat when water levels begin to recede. These are usually areas where greater depth provides comfort and security. Feeding areas are frequently different, but always close by. Larger trout have a tendency to feed in surprisingly shallow water. Venturing into such hazardous territory is risky for the fish and they won't tolerate careless wading or errant casts.

Baetis CDC
Hackled Quill

Hook: #18-22 Tiemco 100"


Well done, Rene' Harrop - This is an article worth reading - it makes you feel like you are right there, and makes you long for next autumn so you can go back and experience it all over again. It makes autumn a season to anxiously await. Go finish what Rene' has to say ...