Flying Ants Make for a Feeding Frenzy

Type: Nontidal
Region: Western
Location: Youghiogheny River

The Youghiogheny River Catch and Return Trout Fishing Area fished amazingly well this past weekend - thanks to the many flying ants that landed on the river and produced a feeding frenzy with the river's trout population. During one evening and two afternoons of fishing with my favorite 1964 Orvis Battenkill 6-weight bamboo fly rod - I caught and released 41 brown and rainbow trout, missed more than I care to admit, and successfully put down many others. I used a #18 and #16 elk-hair caddis with a peacock-herl body to imitate the flying ants. I caught one of my largest brown trout ever from the river, many rainbow trout in the 12 - 15 inch size class, and for the first time - a golden rainbow trout that either swan down from the Swallow Falls area or upstream from the Friendsville area where they are stocked. Watch for those flying ants swarms on warm days in September - they can produce phenomenal trout fishing!