Solutions to Summer Challenges
Sometimes, even during the summer, success is fleeting. Even though there may be a hatch and feeding trout, on some days the fish just don’t respond to my match-the-hatch patterns. Sometimes the situation is even more difficult because the trout do not even react to the natural insects. This is when attractor patterns can solve the problem.
Later in the summer when the fish have been exposed to a range of patterns and warmer water leads to lethargy, I employ another strategy. Terrestrial activity picks up in the summer. Grasshopper imitations are popular at this time of the season, but the fish see a lot of hopper patterns. Using beetle, cricket, and ant imitations offers the trout a little variety. These flies have enjoyed periods of popularity in the past, especially in places such as the Pennsylvania limestone fisheries, but are used infrequently in many parts of the country, such as the West, where grasshoppers reign supreme. And I add another twist to fishing terrestrials.
Most terrestrial insects are poor swimmers. Once in the water, many are unable to escape and they often sink and drown. If the trout do not take my floating patterns, I often find success by fishing my flies as drowned bugs. Try fishing a submerged grasshopper or other terrestrial as a dropper under a floating hopper imitation or other buoyant pattern; if trout do not strike the dry fly, they might eagerly accept the drowned pattern.
The next time you’re not enjoying good results, try adding a twist to your fishing tactics. While all the other anglers are throwing fastballs down the middle, give the fish something different to look at. Throw them a curve.
Al Ritt is a guide, author, and all-around good guy. Al lives in Colorado and works for Peak Engineering, the manufacturer of the Peak Vise.
