This past week’s rain was much anticipated and welcomed and added a bit of a respite to the parched earth and low flows of our area streams. On Tuesday, June 13, the Beaverkill just about reached the median average flow (300 cubic feet per second, compared to the 109-year median average of 306 cfs for that day) before receding back down to lower flows.
We’re rapidly approaching June 21, the first day of summer—and, almost as if on a schedule, we’re seeing the transition of mayfly hatches from the early-season and springtime to those that hatch during the summer. In most instances, the color of the flies lightens as the year progresses—from the dark, slate-blue of the early-season Quill Gordons and Hendricksons to the medium gray/browns and tannish/brown of the March Browns and Gray Foxes to the light/tan colored Cahills and yellowish Sulphurs. You’ll probably want to carry along some Light Cahills in size #14s and Sulphurs a bit smaller. And a range of sizes of Blue-Winged Olives are usually around as well.