Spring 2024 Prognostications

As I sit here on a snowy April afternoon, my thoughts turn to mayfly hatches and the season ahead. Any fly angler worth their dun hackle collection is beginning to wonder when it is that we will see the Queen and King of Spring, the Hendrickson and Red Quill. After a warm and generally snowless winter my bet has been on an early showing of these iconic mayflies. Not the first week of April that we saw in 2012 but earlier than the April 25th or so date that anglers of old will remember as the "normal" start time.

While it seems unlikely now, I am holding to the first showing being on or about the 15th of April. Before winter kicked down springs door water temps were peaking north of 45 on milder days and that's not too far from the 48 - 50 degree water temps often associated with the early day hatches of this bug.

In the meantime, there is a volunteer event on April 13th for those wishing to help clean up some of the access points along the river. Meeting time is at 10 am at the NY Rte 313 parking are just West of the Vermont border. More information available at www.tumyeventscenter.com. See you there!