Hatches and Fly Fishing Strategies

Here in this part of the world: acid rain and a naturally spartan environment mean the huge hatches that the legendary American and English streams are renowned for are not very common.

There are exceptions of course but for the most part fish are feeding sub-surface. When a hatch does occur it is often a mixed blessing. Because it is usually sparse, the fish will rise willingly for the naturals but do have more time to consider your imitation. On the positive side though, during a sparse hatch the trout remain opportunistic and will often not key in on only what is hatching.

Many times I’ve gotten lucky by just matching the size of a hatch even though the colour and pattern of my fly was way off.

The “go to” plan when the fish are starting to become selective for something I don’t have in my box is to tie on an ant pattern,#12 black or a #10 or smaller red. I’m not sure why this works but more often than not it does.

Another thing that is fun when in the midst of a prolific hatch that trout are focused on to the exclusion of your offerings is to put on a large Muddler, well doped up to float. Cast it parallel to the shore and in fairly close, then strip it back in short, splashy jerks. Let it settle then strip it again and so on.

The scenario I’m trying to portray, in my mind as least, is as if something feeding on the hatch, just like the trout, over-extended itself and fell in. Often you can see the “v” as a big old trout leaves his feeding lane and heads for what he must think is a bonus meal.

There is probably no better fly fishing moment than the surge of anticipation upon seeing the first fluttering of Caddis flies wafting across the river or the ethereal dance of Mayflies in the shadows of alders.