UNDERSTANDING EMERGERS AND SELECTIVE TROUT
I love the challenge of working selectively feeding trout. The problem solving aspect of this type of fishing is something that I personally find very enjoyable. Not that I am always successful. Even when I am beaten by the trout I can still learn so very much. Such is the case with the story I am about to relate involving emergers and selectively feeding trout.
Together with my fishing partner Neil Travis, we had traveled to Henry's Fork. I might add that Neil is an excellent angler in his own right, who likes nothing better than working over selective trout. This was July and often the angler fishing Henry's Fork can find a variety of hatching conditions and some very selective trout. One morning Neil called me over and said, "Watch those trout and tell me what you think they are taking." There were three nice rainbows spread along the bank, steadily feeding. After a somewhat casual glance I replied, "Emergers." "Oh, yeah!" he replied, "then why have I received continual Inspection & Refusal rises to these emerger patterns?" Knowing Neil's ability as an angler that stopped me cold and definitely got my full attention.
Now I should explain the situation so you have a better understanding of what was happening with the hatch. Henry's Fork is often confusing because there may be several insect species hatching at the same time. Often the angler needs to treat each trout as an individual to be successful. However, this was not the case on this particular day, as the only thing in the surface film was emerging Pale Morning Duns.
After looking over the emerger patterns that Neil had already used, I suggested a couple others, which were every bit as effective as the ones he had already used. After making comments on my ancestry and ability to select effective patterns we settled down to give the problem serious study. Breaking out a pair of compact, yet powerful, binoculars, we moved as close to the feeding trout as possible and started observing what the trout were feeding on. What we observed was the trout were feeding on EMERGERS!!! Then we dropped back and spent some time observing the insects as they emerged. We both knew that we needed additional imitations if we were going to cover the various stages of the emergers. That evening we broke out the tying kits and went to work.
I'll bet you're wondering what we observed. Calm down, I'll get to that in a moment. The next day we found those trout doing exactly the same thing. Now I would like to tell you that through superior skill I was able to place the imitation in just the right place and that the trout gently took the fly and how I fought and finally landed this trout of huge proportions. But alas, that's not quite the way it happened. Neil was able to take the first trout on one of the new emerger types.
Then it was my turn. Well, to make a long story short, as I was moving into position I tripped and fell in, spooking the other two trout. Since that trip (which I am seldom allowed to forget) I have seen trout working emergers in a very selective manner on many different streams and stillwaters.
What we discovered that day was that there will be times when the angler needs to break emergers down into various categories. We have observed this in regard to mayflies, midges and, on rare occasion, even caddis flies. The emerging categories are:
a. Flat, flush floating nymphs
b. Emerging nymphs that are hanging in the film with their head and thorax in or above the film and their abdomen below the film
c. Half emerged nymphs that are hanging in the half curl position
d. Emerging or transitional adults
e. Shuck trailing adults
Thanks to anglers like Rene' Harrop and Craig Matthews, we do have some emerger patterns that are effective. But there is a definite need to expand this pattern selection if the angler is going to be successful. This is not something that is always important but rather something that can be a factor at times when dealing with selectively feeding trout. I suggest that you take some time to study emergers and you will see what I mean. I often play with different hook styles to achieve the LOOK I want in an emerger pattern. This is an area that is just now becoming important to those who challenge selective trout.
This problem is solved through observation. Then the angler must have a ready supply of the various emerger styles. There will be those who read these lines and scoff, or those who feel that this idea is making things far too complex. But for those who enjoy the challenge of selective trout, they will understand and embrace this theory as another way of solving the riddle of the super selective trout.