Hatches; mayflies, caddis, salmonflies, fly fishers wait for them, vacations are planned around them, flies are purchased just for them. (Fo...
Hatches; mayflies, caddis, salmonflies, fly fishers wait for them, vacations are planned around them, flies are purchased just for them. (For that we are grateful.) Their story is well documented in our world, larva, emergers, duns, spinners, rinse repeat; as timeless as the seasons.
Amid the focus and the glory of the hatch though is another source of food for trout, born outside of water, together they make up a group we call terrestrials.
Beetles, Ants, Hoppers, Crickets, Cicadas, all are common, very common. Terrestrials all are important trout food sources. And many a fly fisher believe they are preferred by trout.
Terrestrials are available from the spring start of traditional trout season to the bitter end. They are, however unpredictable unlike standard hatches; ant ‘falls’ are notorious for being prevalent one day and mysteriously absent the next. But ant falls are often accompanied by the most zealous trout frenzy you are likely to encounter. Fearless trout devouring ants trapped in the surface film.
The same thing can be said for beetles, while it is rarer to see a predominance of beetles on the water. It appears they are a trout favorite. Beetles can be fished any time as there seems to be enough supply of them to keep trout interested. They are a great nutritious meal and either that or their taste keeps them in the fishing game year around. Often times when fish are swirling and you cannot interest them a beetle is just the ticket to entice a strike, even submerged they are hit a wreckless abandon.
When most people think of terrestrials the first one that comes to mind is hoppers. Hoppers are obvious to spot and it is easy becomes excited by their presence. Or maybe we harken back to days of catching them on the school yard during recess. Whatever the reason hoppers are exciting. There are however, many species of them and some are excellent fliers; therefore supplying little food to trout. Others are clumsy though and a little wind and overhanging brush can make them a steady diet source for downstream trout. Further as the weather cools, they become more sluggish and easier prey.
