Fishing the Mayfly Hatch

Fishing a mayfly hatch for bass can be a very productive way to catch fish. Mayflies are a common food source for bass as well as most of their other forage. When mayflies hatch, bass and panfish will often go on a feeding frenzy and prime time to catch them when presenting the right baits.

There are a few things you can do to increase your chances of success when fishing a mayfly hatch:

1. Find the hatch. The first step is to find the hatch. Look for areas where the water is calm and there is plenty of sunlight. You may also see mayflies flying around or resting on the water's surface.
2. Use the right bait. When fishing a mayfly hatch, you'll want to use a bait that imitates a mayfly. There are a number of different types of mayfly imitations available, including poppers, grubs, soft stickbaits and tubes. Experiment with different baits to see what works best during that particular trip.
3. Fish the right spots. Bass will often congregate in areas where mayflies are hatching. Look for areas with overhanging trees or docks, as these provide shade and cover for the bass. You may also find bass feeding near the shoreline or in the shallows.
4. Fish the right time of day. Mayfly hatches typically occur in the morning, but they can also happen in the evening. The best time to fish a mayfly hatch is usually when the sun is shining and there is a light breeze.

Here's some additional advice from bass guru, Kevin VanDam on how to best take advantage of the mayfly hatch to catch more and sometimes bigger bass...