PALE MORNING DUNS (part 4)
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Click here for Part 3. This is Part 4 in the series |
UNDERSTANDING STRATEGIES FOR MATCHING THE HATCH
There are several factors that the angler must consider when fishing dry mayfly imitations over selectively feeding trout. Approach, presentation, line control, pattern selection, tackle considerations, and an understanding of the trout all play a part in the success or failure of the angler. Therefore, we should study these various factors and understand how we, as anglers, can use the information to become more effective and frustrated less often. In an article dealing with fishing for steelhead Lani Waller once wrote:
"I’m convinced that understanding and controlling your presentation is absolutely critical for angling success, perhaps the most critical factor of all."
This statement, though made in reference to steelhead fishing, applies to fishing the dry fly and, everything else being equal, I am in total agreement. The first thing that the angler who chooses to work selective trout should realize is that all factors are important and equally so. The angler may have excellent presentation skills but suffer failure through having a poor pattern selection and so on. Thus the angler needs to perfect all the skills needed to deal with selectively feeding trout. The skills of tying the imitations, casting and proper presentation methods can all be taught in the classrooms so to speak, and the angler then needs practice to perfect them. But the single most important factor in the success of the angler is the ability to observe, sometimes called stream awareness. This skill can be explained and even demonstrated but the angler must invest some time astream to perfect this much-needed skill.
Over the years I have watched many anglers who seem to possess reasonable casting and presentation skills, whose line control and pattern selection were more than adequate and whose tackle was more than satisfactory for the situation at hand. But, who were frustrated and unable to move trout to their patterns simply because they failed to be observant and failed to understand what they had observed. I will first explain how the angler can practice this skill of observation and how to give meaning to what is observed. Then we will discuss what the trout sees and how they see it, along with discussing some of the factors which can influence the rise of the trout to a mayfly. We will also take a look at the different rise types and what they mean to the angler.
The way that I was able to hone my skills of observation was at first by going fishing but not fishing! Now are you confused? Let me explain. When I would go fishing, being young I was always too impatient to just sit on the bank and observe what the trout were doing. Therefore, I made myself go fishing but instead of taking a rod and reel I took a notebook and pen. Because I was unable to pick up a rod and start fishing I soon learned more about the trout and was able to increase my effectiveness.
We have several streams in the area where the angler can do this and learn a great deal of useful information that can be applied to all different types of fly-fishing. The best streams for observation are: The Upper Yellowstone River (above the Falls), and Slough Creek in Yellowstone National Park, and also the spring creeks of Paradise Valley. As I have said before these are the greatest fly fishing classrooms in the world.
The late Vince Marinaro who published A Modern Dry Fly Code in 1950, wrote
"The careful and observant angler will notice anything that might be useable in trout psychology when pursuing the target. Drift lines, rise types, placement of cover and feeding rhythm."
"The importance of observing whether a natural is riding in or on (or both) in the film is critical in selecting the proper pattern and presentation method."
These are just two of many informative statements in his delightful book. Remember that this volume was published in 1950, twenty years before the coming of Selective Trout. Marinaro's work in A Modern Dry Fly Code and in his 1976 publication In the Ring of the Rise should be mandatory reading for any angler who wishes to seriously fish over tough, selectively feeding trout. Another book which will go far in assisting the angler to understand the trout and how they feed on dry mayflies is Swisher & Richards 1970 classic, Selective Trout, along with their often overlooked 1975 publication Fly Fishing Strategy. These volumes will open up a whole new world to the dry fly angler.
By reading and studying these volumes the angler can learn what to look for and how to look for it. Then practice, practice, and more practice. The beauty is that you never stop learning and the information learned through observation will assist you in becoming a better and more effective angler regardless of what techniques and methods you are using.
Let's now take a look at the various rise forms that the angler can encounter. They are the splashy rise, the simple rise, the compound rise, the complex rise, and the sipping rise. These are the rise forms that the angler deals with fishing dry mayfly imitations over selectively feeding trout. We will examine each type and talk about the basic mechanics of the rise types.
SPLASHY RISE
This rise type is often seen when the adults are skittering or moving about on the surface of the water. Often I have observed smaller trout rising this way, but I have also seen good fish rise in this manner if the insect being fed on is substantial in size, like the gray, brown or green drakes. Sometimes on a breezy day when these insects are trying to lift off the water the wind will skitter them along the surface and BOOM the surface explodes with a splashy rise from a trout of considerable size.
SIMPLE RISE
In his 1976 publication entitled In the Ring of the Rise the late Vince Marinaro does a wonderful job of describing the simple rise. His phrasing is so much better than anything I could write therefore I am going to quote his description.
"The simple rise is the least complicated of the rise forms made by trout and usually occurs during a major hatch when the trout is sure of the food type floating downstream. It involves a quick decision by the trout and little hesitation is present. Starting at his observation post, the trout spies the fly and begins upward and downstream drift. At a point downstream the trout rises to the surface to meet the fly, and it is here that he will either take or refuse it. Regardless, he now returns to his holding area." (Observation post‑my words.)
"Looking closely at the water's surface, an angler may detect the rise of a trout evidenced by a circular ring."
This type of rise is often referred to as the "Classic Dry Fly Rise" and is the one most anglers are familiar with.
COMPOUND RISE
Basically the compound rise is a continuation of the simple rise, but it involves a longer "drift and inspection". This happens because something isn't quite right. If the fly is an imitation it may be that the color, light pattern or size is slightly wrong or maybe the trout is seeing the tiniest bit of micro‑drag that causes it not to be sure. The major difference between the compound rise and the complex rise is that during the compound rise the trout continues to drift and inspect the offering and the angler must maintain a drag free float for as long as possible. Often times an imitation that starts dragging will not only be refused but can also spook the trout and put him down.
COMPLEX RISE
Cutthroat trout on Slough Creek and the Upper Yellowstone above the Falls often exhibit this type of rise form during late August and September when feeding on tiny blue winged olives. The complex rise is somewhat like the compound rise in that the trout rises up from his observation post and drifts along and carefully inspects the fly (natural or imitation) as there seems to be some doubt in his mind as to whether it's really food or not. As the fly starts to finally drift past him, this is the time for decision. If something such as drag or maybe he didn't like the way the legs were held (remember, this is just speculation on my part) then the trout will return to the observation post.
But if he does decide it's food then he will turn after it (facing downstream) and pursue it. Once a trout has decided to take, seldom does he veer off and change his mind. As anglers we are often too quick to pick up and recast after the fly has started by the trout. If you do so with a complex rise you will spook the trout besides losing your chance to take a fish.
SIPPING RISE
The sipping rise is often the hardest to detect and only the most observant of anglers will see this rise type. I have sat on the bank at DePuy's Spring Creek and on the Henry's Fork and watched anglers walk right by sipping trout and never see them. Yet these trout are often the easiest to approach because they are holding near the surface and their field of vision is much more limited.
Often the trout is holding near the bank or close to the edge of a weedbed and is in a strong and regular feeding rhythm. Also note that the trout is holding very near the surface. The sipping trout is feeding in a very definite line of drift and will not move three inches either way to take the fly. It must come right to him. Once he has locked in on the fly there is a gentle tilting upward. The movement is often so slow and gradual that the angler never sees it. Once the trout is very close to the insect (within fractions of an inch), the jaws slowly open and the insect or fly disappears into a swirl. There is only the very slightest disturbance on the surface.
SWIVEL RISE
The swivel rise is often seen when the insect hatch is sparse but the trout have keyed into the adults. I have often seen this type of rise when the hatches are just getting started and when they start to wane. The trout will be spotted at his observation post and the angler will soon notice that the trout will move a considerable distance to his left or right to intercept a floating fly. The trout, when rising in this manner, are often holding deeper in the water to increase their field of vision and the angler must be careful in approaching these fish. This type of rise is often readily spotted because of the extreme movements of the trout and the visible disturbance on the surface. Upon moving to the fly the trout then returns to its observation post. Once the trout has made up its mind to rise in this manner, seldom does it shy off.
BANK OR EDGE SIPPING RISE
This is far and away both the toughest rise to spot and to fish for. The trout will be located under the very extreme edge of a bank or floating weedbed. These areas will be located where there is either a strong line of drift coming right to the feeding station or where back eddies continually move the food to the feeding station.
It also requires thoughtful contemplation of the approach and presentation prior to actually doing so. A hasty cast can often mean a spooked trout. These fish are seldom easy but with careful consideration of all the factors and careful handling of the tackle these trout can be taken. If the angler is careful with the casting and line control, often several casts can be made to the fish.
Now that we have covered the various rise forms that the angler can encounter while working over selectively feeding trout, we should examine the trout's vision and understand how the field of vision will vary depending upon the depth that the trout is holding.
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