Streams are clear as glass. Water in good condition. If you have not been fishing enough to explore all of your favorite Pierce County Waterways, likely they have changed in character from the high water this spring. Some stretches for the worst, some for the better. As I am slowly getting to explore I am finding favorite pools gone, islands that disappeared and rocky runs filled with sand. I am also finding some new deep cuts against banks and bluff side undercuts that were not there before. It is change, and change is. I am having better luck catching (numbers wise) on one of my favorite streams than the other. This trend usually plays out the opposite but I don’t want all the anglers to rush their on my experience so I am not going to name names. I just have not put enough time in exploring all of my favorite haunts yet.
It seems like the word throughout the local fly fishing community is that the catching part, especially on the surface has been difficult so far this summer and that except for a short BWO hatch early and a smattering of caddis at dusk topwater has been not been as productive a method. Everyone is asking about Sulfurs, PMD’s, PAD’s, Little yellow bugs, little yellow/green bugs. I have seen only onesy- twosy and no fish to the surface for them. The Dames Rockets are in full bloom. In the past this has been the timing for good hatches of the light colored bugs of summer. What has your experience been??
Wear a Buff or the gnats will eat your ears right now in a number of areas.
10 users commented in " Gnat Attack – Short Report "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackbackyou ain’t lying about the gnats. Fished Jackson, and got eaten alive but those little emmer effers.
Nymphing was the ticket
I make a DEET free bug spray that I stand behind for mosquitoes, but when the gnats started to fly up my nose and into my eyes, I conceded defeat and pulled on a bugnet. This was after I added an additional dose of vanilla.
A U of Illinois study says that DEET won’t help and may even attract gnats, so besides eating flylines, it’s not the angler’s friend for repellent.
I remain on the hunt for trout and other treasures.
Boom
A buff and hoody for me.
Bit in the eye yesterday. Looked like Rocky.
Goat,
Glad to see your reports back up and online. Hope you are feeling good and getting after it.
Best regards!
D.A.
Thanks D.A.
Gettin after it a little and feeling just fine. Talk with ya soon.
Andy – Have you ever tried Buggins? I’ve seen it on Amazon and it has great reviews for gnat repellent. Just wondering if any Graygoaters have experience with it?
https://www.amazon.com/Buggins-Natural-Repellent-DEET-Free-Vanilla/dp/B01FEFV162?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1#customerReviews
Hi Bob
I have not tried Buggins. I am all over the natural aspect of the product though. Was on the lower Kinni, deep in the canyon on Friday and the gnats were relentless. It is not that they are biting all the time, they are not. These bugs are just in your nose, mouth, ears, eyes and on a constant prowl around your head. More of an aggravated assault on the ability to enjoy the adventure. All and all the gnats are a story of nature. The dragonflies, birds and everything else the eats these little buggers are getting fat and sassy. Food chain baby!
They still swarm when using Buggins, but no bites
Michael
Although I have not tried the product, these gnats have been an annoyance more than anything. Yes, I have received some bites but by far not in proportion to how many are flying around my head at any one time. If the mosquitos get this bad fishing may cease to be as enjoyable.
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