It’s a decision we make every time we approach the water. You’ve done it hundreds of

times, yet we still struggle with the decision. My first instinct is to match what’s flying

around, be it a major hatch, or just some local everyday caddis. No insects seen, no trout

rising, my second choice would be an attractor. This is the mental conditioning I

received from years of reading trout books and magazines. Your method of fly selection

is probably different then mine, and the method by which you were conditioned may be

different then mine. But we all still go through the mental process. How often has you

first selection of a pattern been so right that you fished with that pattern all day? A quick

browse through my fishing log reveals to me that I switched patterns as many as nine

times in one day.

Let’s take a look at the trout, it’s behavior, it’s instincts, the weather and a few other

factors that affects the decisions a trout makes in selecting it’s food. My opinions have

been shaped by my 50+ years of fishing experience and my background as a biology

teacher. None the less they are opinions. Each trout fisherman eventually reaches a trout

philosophy based on what he or she has observed. Compare your observations with mine

and let’s explore the feeding habits of ‘Salmonidae’.

Let’s start with the dumb trout, that’s right, the dumb trout! Despite what you read about

this so called, intelligent animal, it’s not really smart. It’s brain functions on instinct.

They have a keen sense of smell and sight, but that’s were it ends. Trout have the skills

necessary to survive in their environment based on genetic programming, nothing more

or nothing less.

Let’s revert for a moment to bass fishing. I have in my

tackle box a Budweiser Beer Can Plug and a Jimmy Carter

Peanut Plug (come on guys, we all have a couple of these).

The sad part of the story is that I have caught fish with

both. My Jimmy Carter plug has more strike marks then

some of my Rapalas. My point? Stomach contents of

dissected trout have revealed leaf fragments, stones, twigs,

bottle caps, etc. It would appear that the trout is not much

smarter then the bass. What fly should I use today?

Ever try to select a fly to use when the barometer is falling. Overcast above, major storm

approaching? Good luck! Sure, we’ve all had an occasional trout on the line but the vast

majority of the time you’re just pounding dead waters. The falling barometer has put the

trout down and there is nothing you can do about it. What fly should I use today?

How about those dog days of summer, when water levels are low and water temperatures

are rising. Trout must burn a lot of energy chasing things around the river on hot days.

Much better if they hide in the cool shade or in the cool deep pools, and wait for better

times to feed, like night, when they don’t have to burn up so much energy. The only food

they will probably take under those circumstances is food placed directly over them, so

they don’t have to work hard. What fly should I use today?

What about spookiness, phases of the moon, poorly presented flies, bait fisherman,

canoes and tubers, overhead birds of prey and all the other distractions in a trout’s day.

What fly should I use today?

Where am I going with this. I’m trying to say that there are times when you just aren’t

going to catch any fish. So try as we do, our time might be better be spent in more

productive pursuits. Time at the local fly shop, or drinking a Manhattan at the nearest

fishing lodge. What fly should I use today?

What about the positive times. The times when the trout are on the feed bag. When

opportunity knocks we must now decide which fly to select from the dozens of pattern

we have with us. A decision is called for, and you’re hesitating. What fly should I use

today?

Let’s start with the ‘matching the hatch’ concept. We’re all familiar with it. Any trout

fisherman who’s been on the water during a major hatch has observed the phenomena.

The insects fall in significant quantities and the trout rise in significant quantities. Think

like a trout --- little yellow insects are falling all around me --- I rise to eat the little

yellow insects. I don’t have to chase them all around the river. I just sit here and they

come to me. My belly is full and I had to do no work. Now, while I’m eating these little

yellow bugs, a large green thing lands several feet away from me. Why would I move to

feed on it when all I have to do is sit here and eat these little

yellow bugs. Yes, when there is a major hatch on, the ‘match

the hatch’ concept really works, as long as you put the fly

right over the fish. The aftermath of a major hatch is that

their bellies are now full and they won’t be feeding for a

while. So the next morning, or so, they aren’t hungry and

won’t be for a while. You can toss all the little yellow things

you want and they won’t go near them. What fly should I

use today?

The presence of day-to-day insect life, ants, bees, hoppers, beetles, etc. can and should be

a guide in you selection of flies. The whole secret here lies in your powers of

observation. Small, localized hatches of caddis, stoneflies and midges are most always

present. Having the knowledge of what’s going on in your area is of the most

importance. The local fly shops can be a big help with this information. They will help

you choose --- what fly should I use today?

We must also remember that the trout is a wild animal who’s biological need for food

triggers an aggressive posture. When the feeding mechanism has been stimulated the

trout will feed. Being present at this time with waders and rod is a definite plus in your

favor. If we only knew for sure what factors triggered the feeding stimulus, and could be

present at all such occasions there would be no more trout.

It is this aggressive feeding behavior that the trout fisherman is

looking for. During these times the trout is more then likely to

attack with reckless abandonment. Have you ever had the

experience of making a cast, only to watch a trout move toward

your fly before it has even hit the water? Possibly even going

airborne for the fly. If you haven’t had the experience yet, just

keep fishing, you’ll experience it soon enough. Now, let’s

explore this for a moment. We know that trout have excellent eyesight. However, the fly

is moving through the air, the current is moving, the fish is moving. Are you telling me

that the trout has identified the object as a natural insect? Even though it is tied with

green peacock herl and red floss with white wings and black thread. I don’t think so. But

just to be on the safe side I sure am glad I used black thread instead of brown thread. The

trout may have spotted the brown thread and changed its mind. What fly should I use

today?

This aggressive feeding behavior probably accounts for the many

strange objects recovered in the stomachs of trout. Ignoring for the

moment, the twigs and leaves and such, look at the stuff that we

throw at them. Red, green, orange, glittery, hairy, plastic, and foam

to mention just a few. I doubt for a moment that the trout even

thinks it looks like an insect or fish. But a foreign object has

invaded its space and the trout being an aggressive predator on the

feed must challenge it. What fly should I use today?

We all are seekers of the “perfect conditions syndrome”. Let’s see; I’m looking for a

river with water temperatures in the 50’s. High oxygen content. A modest current with

lots of structure. Either a heavy cloud cover or a natural canopy. Wide enough to cast,

shallow enough to wade. A high trout count per mile. A pleasant mixture of holes,

ripples, feeding lanes, runs and pocket waters. A steady barometer. A nice mixture of

gravel, cobblestones and boulders. The ultimate condition being that the waters would

hold at least three species of trout. When you find this, please give me a call and I’ll

answer the question for --- what fly should I use today?

See you on the water…..

Tom Deschaine Copyright 2009©Deschaine