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Dissect Trout Surface Feeding Behavior And Choose Flies They Can't Resist
Watching trout rise from a vantage point on the riverbank will tell you where to cast. But by taking an even closer look and noting how those trout are rising, you can also glean exactly what type of fly to throw at them—especially when there are many different bugs flying in the air. Here’s what to look for.
1 - The Sip
What you see: A very subtle dimple in the water, and only the nose of the trout appears.
What that means: The fish are either sipping midges or eating spent mayfly spinners.
What to fish: A Rusty Spinner—but no bigger than a size 18.
2 - The Slurp
What you see: More pronounced “beaks,” eating on the surface.
What that means: The fish are dialed in on a hatch—likely mayfly duns.
What to fish: A size 18 Parachute Adams. When the fish are really chopping, try a cripple variation.
3 - The Splash
What you see: A sudden, explosive pop with some splash.
What that means: Trout are on moving targets, like skittering caddisflies.
What to fish: Tie on a caddis pattern, such as a size 16 Lawson’s Caddis, and don’t be afraid to give it a twitch.
4 - The Boil
What you see: Disturbed water but no faces—only a dorsal fin and maybe a tail.
What that means: They’re eating emergers before they reach the surface.
What to fish: A size 20 Flashback Barr Emerger just beneath the film.
From June 2012 issue of Field & Stream.
Illustration by Mike Sudal.
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Comments (5)
What is suggested to tie on really makes no sense. You often can not "just put on an emerger" identifying the rise to an emerger. You often need to identify the SIZE, and body color of the bug they are rising to. When trout are "boiling" at a size # 10 green drake "emerger" why would you tie on a size # 20 flashback nymph? The fly being suggested makes no sense. That was written in the magazine by Deeter this month. I had that frustration yesterday, and bigtime..bright sun, lots of huge rainbows all around my boat feeding on chironomid pupa under the surface..rainbows 20 inches, and well over that were within casting distance, and I was anchored on the edge of this gold fish bowl visibility pool of water anchored on an underground spring that attracted these huge rainbows, and caught but one, and two breakoffs. Back to the drawing board, and I will be back.
Sayfu, as the article says..."many different bugs flying". The article helps you identify what bugs the fish are keying on by the style of the rise and gives suggestions on the type of fly you should use when there are many different bugs in and on top of the water. It is a very good tip for any fly fisherman, experienced or novice.
If there were only a green drake hatch, then fish green drakes.
NO, not true at all. It is one thing to recognize the rise form, but the choice of flies needs to be more than just a wild guess, and a baseless choice. You had better make a rational choice. I am sure that Mike Lawson, or Rene' Harrop would laugh at Deeter's selection of flies given lots of different bugs are in the air like they often are on the Railroad section of water that these guys fish, and the rest of the Henry's Fork that I have been fishing. Again, you are just patronizing anything Deeter posts, and never have given a questioning version of your own. I have read that rise form description a countless number of times, and never have read where a fly of choice was grabbed out of thin air like Deeter has suggested. When our green drakes are hatching as they are NOW, there are always caddis emergers, PMD's on the water both hatching, and egg laying, flavs, Grey drake spinner falls, and you need to choose the right fly by observation.
Me? An Ohio State Buckeye, patronize Deeter? A Michigan Alum? Sayfu, You have spit some wild game on this blog over the years but that tops it all.
Deeter has offered sound, basic advice which you have managed to manipulate and twist in a ramble of unrelated scenario's that have nothing to do with the subject of the blog, again.
I know a brown nose when I listen to one. And nothing wrong with bowing at the feet of a Wolverine. "Hail to the Victors!" And wish I could have manipulated those picky, huge emerger eating rainbows yesterday, with a no solve the riddle like putting on a size #20 flashback nymph" but I could not.
Nice thought though for especially this audience..keep it simple stupid.
Post a Comment
What is suggested to tie on really makes no sense. You often can not "just put on an emerger" identifying the rise to an emerger. You often need to identify the SIZE, and body color of the bug they are rising to. When trout are "boiling" at a size # 10 green drake "emerger" why would you tie on a size # 20 flashback nymph? The fly being suggested makes no sense. That was written in the magazine by Deeter this month. I had that frustration yesterday, and bigtime..bright sun, lots of huge rainbows all around my boat feeding on chironomid pupa under the surface..rainbows 20 inches, and well over that were within casting distance, and I was anchored on the edge of this gold fish bowl visibility pool of water anchored on an underground spring that attracted these huge rainbows, and caught but one, and two breakoffs. Back to the drawing board, and I will be back.
Sayfu, as the article says..."many different bugs flying". The article helps you identify what bugs the fish are keying on by the style of the rise and gives suggestions on the type of fly you should use when there are many different bugs in and on top of the water. It is a very good tip for any fly fisherman, experienced or novice.
If there were only a green drake hatch, then fish green drakes.
NO, not true at all. It is one thing to recognize the rise form, but the choice of flies needs to be more than just a wild guess, and a baseless choice. You had better make a rational choice. I am sure that Mike Lawson, or Rene' Harrop would laugh at Deeter's selection of flies given lots of different bugs are in the air like they often are on the Railroad section of water that these guys fish, and the rest of the Henry's Fork that I have been fishing. Again, you are just patronizing anything Deeter posts, and never have given a questioning version of your own. I have read that rise form description a countless number of times, and never have read where a fly of choice was grabbed out of thin air like Deeter has suggested. When our green drakes are hatching as they are NOW, there are always caddis emergers, PMD's on the water both hatching, and egg laying, flavs, Grey drake spinner falls, and you need to choose the right fly by observation.
Me? An Ohio State Buckeye, patronize Deeter? A Michigan Alum? Sayfu, You have spit some wild game on this blog over the years but that tops it all.
Deeter has offered sound, basic advice which you have managed to manipulate and twist in a ramble of unrelated scenario's that have nothing to do with the subject of the blog, again.
I know a brown nose when I listen to one. And nothing wrong with bowing at the feet of a Wolverine. "Hail to the Victors!" And wish I could have manipulated those picky, huge emerger eating rainbows yesterday, with a no solve the riddle like putting on a size #20 flashback nymph" but I could not.
Nice thought though for especially this audience..keep it simple stupid.
Post a Comment