Table of Contents
Acknowledgments 5
Foreword Tom Bie 8
Introduction Tom Rosenbauer 10
Chapter 1 How Did We Get Here? 14
Chapter 2 Entomology and the Practical Fly Fisher 26
Orders of Insects 32
Mayflies
Caddis Flies
True Flies
Stone Flies
Damselflies and Dragonflies
Dobsonflies, Fishflies, and Alderflies
Beetles and Bugs
Terrestrial Insects
General Rules for Entomology
Chapter 3 How Trout Respond to Hatches 48
Temperature Counts 52
The Basic Mechanisms of Trout Feeding 53
Optimal Foraging Theory
Search Image
Selectivity 56
What Happens during a Hatch 58
What Insects Do
How Trout Respond
Rise Forms
Differences in Responses to Hatches among Trout Species
Chapter 4 How to Find Trout Feeding on a Hatch 76
The Seasonal Progression of Hatches 80
How Long Do Hatches Last? 81
How to Know What to Expect 82
Internet
Books
Guides
Local Observation
Time of Day 84
Location, Location, Location 86
Where the Insects Are Globally
Velocity
Depth
Predictability and Visibility
Where the Food Line Is
Wind
Pods
When Trout Ignore Hatches 96
Chapter 5 Stalking Hatch-Feeding Trout 98
How to Approach a Feeding Fish 101
Upstream or Downstream?
How to Wade without Spooking Trout
Sun and Shade Strategies
Movement
How Close Can I Get?
Upstream or Downstream Presentation? 107
Upstream Presentation
Downstream Presentation
Directly Across
Approaching from Boats
Reading the Fish 114
Degrees of Spookiness
Rise Rhythm
More Rise Strategies
Easy Fish 122
Fish in Uniform Currents
Fish in Faster Water
Fish in Shallow Water
Fish Pegged to Cover
Look for the Steadiest Feeder
Why Selectivity Is Usually the Least Important Reason Trout Won't Take Your Fly 125
Drag
Spooked Fish
Wary Fish
Fishing behind the Rise
Chapter 6 Strategies for Fishing Emergers and Adult Insects 128
Hatch or Mating Flight? 131
Pre-Hatch Tactics 132
Unweighted Nymphs
Swinging Wet Flies
When Nymphs Stop Working
Patience Is a Virtue 139
Best Water Types for Emergences 140
Why an Emerger Is Almost Always a Better Bet Than an Adult
Masking Hatches
When to Fish a High-Riding Fly
Special Tactics for Mayfly Emergences
Special Tactics for Caddis Emergences
Special Tactics for Midge Emergences
Chapter 7 Fishing to Mating Flights and Egg-Laying Events 156
Why These Are Great Opportunities 160
The Naturals Come from above the Water
The Flies Are Helpless
The Events Are Concentrated
Where to Look 161
When to Look 162
How Do You Know When It's an Egg-Laying Event and Not a Hatch? 163
Specific Mayfly Strategies 164
Specific Caddis Strategies 169
Specific Stone-Fly Strategies 171
Specific Midge Strategies 173
A Terrestrial "Hatch" 174
Chapter 8 Fly Patterns for Fishing Hatches 176
A Fly Collection Philosophy 179
Size, Shape, and Color: Is That All We Need for Fly Selection? 180
Size
Get a Sample
Shape
Color
Attitude
Consider the Water Type
Toward Simplicity
My Go-To Flies 187
Mayflies 188
Nymphs near the Surface
Emergers
Fully Emerged Duns
Spinners
Caddis Flies 193
Emerging Pupae
Fully Emerged Adults
Spent Caddis
Midges 196
Emerging Pupae
Adults
One-Off Flies 198
Stone Flies 200
Terrestrials 201
Chapter 9 Equipment and Casts for Avoiding Drag 202
Equipment 205
Fly Rods
Lines
Leaders
Tippet Material
Special Casts 212
The Reach Cast
The Reach with a Bump
The Parachute or Pile Cast
The Paul Roos Roll Mend Cast
A Strategy for Late-Evening Hatches
Chapter 10 Targeting Larger Trout During Hatches 218
Fish the Right Hatch 222
Wear Out Your Oars or Wading Shoes 223
Wear Out Your Patience 224
Strategy Is Crucial 226
What Do Large Trout Rises Look and Sound Like? 226
Finding the Largest Trout in a Group 228
Preferred Feeding Spots of Large Trout 230
Annotated Bibliography 232
