The Black Caddisfly Hatch is known to throw anglers curveballs. Photo By: Dave Grossman
Bugs, Bugs Everywhere, and not a fish to be seen
Have you ever thrown a party, sent out the invitations, bought the onion dip, and in the end it’s just you and your onion dip? Now imagine the river is the party, the bugs are the onion dip, and the trout are your ungrateful, good for nothing, no-show friends. If you spend enough time on rivers, you have either seen or will see a situation where the hatch is out in force, yet not a single one of our finned friends is so much as poking a nose up to say hello. It is usually at this point your buddy starts with his blubbering about, “This is crazy man, all these bugs and not fish…I just can’t believe it dude…trout are cruel mistresses…I hate you Dad, ” and other such nonsense. My advice is to grumble some obligatory “uh-huhs,” while you coolly and calmly cut off your dry fly, tie on a big articulated piece of meaty goodness, and make the thunder stick go boom. Bugs are great, but not if fish aren’t eating them.
Written by: Dave Grossman, editor of S.C.O.F. magazine and guide for Appalachian Fly Guides
Same Day as above, Dave taking matters into his own hands. Photo By: Dave Grossman
Keep it Reel,
Come fish with us in the Bahamas!
Kent Klewein Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter!
Is that a leech or a wooley bugger you threw out?
Andrew,
Dave was suggesting that we should think about fishing a variety of streamer patterns, or going with other wet fly patterns when we find ourselves striking out during a hatch. The black caddis hatch, has been notorious for trout ignoring adults on the surface during a hatch. I think they often feed on the emergers and quite often get gorged after a few days of feeding on the black caddis. This makes it more difficult to consistently catch trout. Sometimes, snipping off your dry fly and fishing other imitations (not the bug hatching) can improve your fishing success. Try this tip next time you find yourself in this position.
Kent