The salmonfly possibly the west's greatest hatch

they're big, ugly, and the fish love em.
For those like me even talk of these bugs forces ones mind to slide into deep thought of rivers awakening with fish slamming the water and getting the attention of even the streams biggest and weariest residents. I find it's also a time when small sections of river get packed in like sardines with the masses of folks who have been thinking the same thing as you only it almost seems acceptable even though it wouldn't be my typical solitude and peace found in fishing places less travelled, it still holds a certain appeal and tradition that I don't want to miss.
The timing of this hatch is critical hit it early and fish won't yet be keying on the big guys, but don't wait to long cause the main event may only last a few weeks. It also won't neccessarily happen at the same time each year with variables like weather water and air temp ect., it could be as early as mid may or as late as the end of june. But when you hit it right you can be in for a ton of action and even get a shot at a big one.
I'm one of those under the impression that the pattern and size nor the twitch or the dead drift is not that important, I've used many patterns from stimulators to mac salmons and many sizes from 6-14 twitched, drifted, skated, or submerged all have taken fish. But you don't always get them to hand in fact you'll pry have so many strikes, takes, rejections you forget that its only 3-4 fish to hand but all the action makes you feel like you caught fish all day. Many great hatches occur out west but none maybe have the exitement and anticipation of the salmonfly.