Valley Angler: Two rods for the Saco

The next couple of weeks are prime time for the Saco. The big hatches of mayflies have already begun but will intensify in the next few days. The evenings are the best time to catch them, when they practice their mating rituals. On a good night, you will be treated thousands of falling mayflies and hundreds of rising trout.

Despite the great opportunity for dry fly fishing, there is an equal chance for great subsurface fishing as well. Many fly anglers much prefer to fish dries, and I count myself as one of them. However, a good evening can go to waste if you are not equipped to change your tactics. To this end, I carry two rods when I fish the Saco; one rigged with a floating line and the second with a fast-sinking head.