Usually reddish brown with tan/yellow appendages and markings. The nymphs live in faster riffles and crawl to the banks of the river starting in March. Look for them in the grass and willows at the edge of the river. It's not unusual to find a Skwala nymph on your jacket or waders while wade fishing early in the season.
Top Patterns (#10-12): TJ Hooker, Sili-leg Stone, Lucent Skwala, Double Bead Stone
Adults:
Light to dark brown with notable tails and antennae. The females have a full wing that extends just past the abdomen, while the males have a shorter wing. The adults gather to mate in the foliage adjacent to the river. Because they are clumsy climbers and poor fliers (some species don't fly at all), they often end up in the river accidentally. The females will jump into the river to lay their eggs making them prime targets for hungry trout. We often fish skwala imitations that have a prominant black egg sac that mimic the natural females.
Timing: Skwala adults are usually spotted in early to mid-March, but this can be pushed all the way back into April if we have a cold spring. The adults are most active during the warmest part of the day.
Top Patterns (#10-12): Morningwood Skwala, Fool's Gold Skwala, Jake's Blackout Stone, Rogue Stone Skwala
Tips for fishing the Skwala Hatch
1) Remember this is still cold water fishing. Try fishing a dry-dropper rig until the fish start rising to the dry, then cut off the dropper.
2) Move your fly! This may be counter intuitive to those used to a dead drift presentation, but Skwalas are very active on the water surface. Give your fly a twitch or skitter and prepare for an aggressive eat.
3) Try a smaller fly. Skwalas are slim, low-riding stoneflies and many patterns are just too chunky. If you are getting refusuals size down to a #12 or #14. These smaller patters also can represent a Nemoura, another stonefly present in March and April.
A fly designed specifically for the rivers around Missoula. The Plan B in Olive is a phenomenal choice for anglers wanting Skwala dry eats. It sits extremely low to the water making it float very r...
The Chubby Chernobyl is one of the most versatile and effective foam flies on the market. Changing the size or color of this pattern can help you imitate a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial i...
Same as the Stimulator, but has rubber legs and a poly wing for added attraction. This is one of those classic attractor patterns that are a staple fly here in Western Montana. The rubber legs he...
Whether the mottled tan or dark brown is better remains an ongoing guide debate. Both work exceptionally well. Our guess is trout mistake these for stonefly nymphs but they also resemble small cr...
The Trusted Classic Stonefly Nymph. This pattern is excellent for imitating Stoneflies in their aquatic form. Before the hatch ramps up on the surface, Trout are sure to be feeding below. To dial ...
The Sili-Leg stone has been around for 12 years or so and relies on lead wraps for weight. With the explosion of Euro Nymphing people are wanting very heavy flies. We feel that keeping this fly the...
The Flexi Girdle Bug is a versatile fly pattern perfect for targeting Montana's trout. Its design allows for natural movement to entice even the most cautious fish. Crafted for success in any water...
