Over the past week, conditions have lined up just about perfectly. Flows have normalized across most systems, and water temperatures are now sitting in that 10–13°C range. That’s the threshold where things really start to happen, consistent hatches, more active fish, and far more opportunity to fish on top.

If you've been waiting to get on the upper Grand River (Elora/Fergus area), the Friends Of The Grand River have just completed their spring stocking, adding 19,000 fish to the river, it's a great time to go now!

The headline right now is simple: bugs are hatching.

Blue-winged olives have been coming off consistently across most rivers. You can expect to see them most days, especially warm days when there’s a bit of cloud cover.

Hendricksons are now entering the mix as well. These are a bigger, more noticeable mayfly, generally in that size 12–16 range, and they tend to hatch in the afternoon once the water hits that magic 10-degree mark. If you’re planning your day around dry flies, that 3:00–6:00 p.m. window is where you want to be.

We’re also right on the edge of even more activity. Sulphurs and grey foxes will be starting soon once things warm up a touch more. It’s worth being prepared for them now rather than reacting late.

All that said, dry fly fishing is still a windowed game this time of year. Outside of hatch periods, you’ll want to be flexible.

Even with dry fly season kicking off, subsurface tactics are still doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

Nymphing remains incredibly productive, especially in the mornings and colder periods between hatches. Fish haven’t seen much pressure yet this season, so don’t overthink it, patterns with a bit of flash or colour can actually outperform more subtle flies right now. Think pheasant tails, Frenchies, Walt’s worms, and flashy attractor nymphs in that size 12–16 range.

Streamers are becoming more interesting by the day. As water warms, fish get more aggressive. Where earlier in the season you had to crawl a fly near the bottom, you can now start to speed things up. Bigger articulated patterns, more movement, more water covered, it’s a great time to start hunting for larger fish.

The key with streamers right now is mobility. Not every fish is going to commit to a big meal, so covering water becomes critical. Walk, fish multiple pools, and keep moving until you find a fish willing to eat.

While many anglers shift to trout at this point, there are still steelhead in the systems and in some cases, fresh fish continuing to push in!

Not every river is equal anymore. This is the time of year where you need to be selective. Some systems fish are dropping out of, while others are still holding solid numbers of fish. If you’re targeting steelhead, it’s worth reaching out for current info before heading out.

When you do find them, the approach hasn’t changed much. Eggs, nymphs, and small baitfish patterns all continue to produce. Swinging flies can be especially effective right now as fish become more aggressive post-spawn.

Beyond trout and steelhead, there are two standout warmwater opportunities right now: pike and carp.

Pike are fresh out of the spawn and still holding in shallow water, often very shallow. Back bays, marshy areas, and creek mouths are all prime locations. This is one of the best windows of the year to target big fish on the fly, often in clear, visual conditions.

Carp are just starting to show as well. Pre-spawn fish are moving into the shallows, especially on sunny days when water temperatures bump up. These fish are active, accessible, and often surprisingly aggressive. If you’ve never tried it, this is a great time to start!

This weekend is shaping up to be one of the best of the season so far. Rivers are in excellent condition, bugs are active, and fish are feeding across multiple systems and species.

Whether you’re looking to fish dries, hunt big trout with streamers, chase the last of the steelhead, or explore pike and carp in the shallows, there’s no shortage of opportunity right now.

Get out there, stay flexible, and take advantage of it.