In Egg Hatch Part 1 and 2 we talked about the importance of understanding and using egg patterns and where an how the different fish species spawn. In part 3 we'll be discussing when the individual species spawn.

The most important egg hatches we need to consider occur from late September to early June. That's a period of almos eight months that eggs are available to feed on. Starting off the egg hatch in September in rivers that have the are the Spring Chinook. The males and females pair off on their redds and prepare to propagate their species. This is prime time to drift egg patterns as trout, whitefish, steelhead and bull trout line up downstream from these redds forthe feast they provide. Remember, when eggs are available fish will concentrate on them because nothing else thefeed on provides as much food value as eggs.

This past fall on the Deschutes fish-along we fished October caddis imitations in the evening with little success. I had focused too much on the caddis hatch and was not observant enough to really see what was happening. I went backa few days later, same water, same conditions, same hatch, but this time I fished egg patterns below some spawning salmon and had a great day. I hooked rainbows, whitefish and a steelhead. Lesson learned. This past Fall I also drifted egg patterns below spawning spring chinook on the Imnaha River in NE Oregon, catching both whitefish and bull trout.

Following on the heels of the spring chinook are the other fall spawning salmon. These include the fall chinook, coho and chum salmon. They spawn from October to January. Remember, salmon and steelhead inhale and crush the eggs of other species to insure the survival of their own, so fishing egg patterns at this time can be deadly.

Coming out of the lakes that have them in late September, landlocked Kokanee salmon ascend feeder streams to spawn. These are soon followed by other fall spawners like the brook, brown and bull trout. When these fish spawn you can be sure that predatory species take notice and feed on their eggs. This past Fall, while fishing the OwyheeRiver in far eastern Oregon, I drifted egg patterns below spawning brown trout and caught both rainbows and browns that weren't spawning.

Remember last month when we mentioned lakes that didn't have any spawning tributaries? Fishing egg patterns around fish trying to spawn over underground springs or gravel shorelines can bring strikes from marauding trout.

The whitefish start to spawn in January. Remember they don't make redds but are free spawners. They eject their eggs in the current and they drift along until they find a resting spot. Local trout know this and feast on the bounty. If you’re planning a winter fishing trip to the Deschutes, Metolius or Crooked River, be sure to take some Whitefish egg patterns along.

In our local streams, summer and winter steelhead start their spawning ritual beginning in late January and lasting through April. Also, at this time a little known, but sometimes important, spawn is that of suckers. They are also freespawners like the whitefish. One memorable early spring day on Rocky Ford Spring Creek near Ephrata, Washington, I observed large female suckers swimming with smaller male suckers in chase. Every so often one of the females would stop and her body would ripple and shake as she vented her eggs. The males would rush in to fertilize them. Right behind them, large rainbows darted in for the feast. Luckily I had some small #20 dull yellow egg patterns and had a great day of sight fishing.

Starting in late February and lasting till early June, the rainbow and cutthroat trout maintain their spawning ritual. Downstream from their redds you can find other predator fish awaiting an easy meal. These include non-spawningrainbows or other species of trout including bull and brown trout in  watersheds that have them. While I don't condonefishing over spawning fish, targeting the non-spawning fish downstream is a great tactic.By the time  the egg hatch is coming to an end, the insect activity is at its height. But don't forget egg patterns for trout and summer steelhead. Remember, fish have seen them for the past eight months or so; they’re used to seeing and feeding on them.

In Egg Hatch Part 4 we will show you useful patterns and how to fish them.