Hatch Guides: Reports, Conditions & Resources
Our hatch guides map the major western mayfly, caddis, stonefly, midge, and terrestrial emergences month by month so you can time a trip around bugs that actually bring trout to the surface. Use these hatch guides to plan, then confirm with live conditions before you drive out.
The major hatches
Spring brings Blue Wing Olives and the first caddis. Summer stacks up Pale Morning Duns, golden stoneflies, and terrestrials. Fall finishes with Mahogany Duns and a second BWO push, while winter belongs to the midge.
Timing the emergence
Water temperature triggers most hatches more reliably than the calendar, so we cross-check USGS Water Data for live flows before any trip. Match the size first, carry an emerger and a dun, and fish a drag-free drift through the riffles and seams where trout feed.
What to bring
A 9-foot 5-weight rod, a floating line, 4X to 5X leaders, and a box covering mayflies, caddis, stoneflies, midges, and a few terrestrials handle most western trout situations. Add split shot and indicators for nymphing, a couple of streamers, polarized sunglasses, and waders for the season, and always confirm local regulations and licensing before you fish.
Explore our hatch guides, river fishing reports, and current conditions to build your plan.