Part of being a successful fly angler lies in being observant; in being visually aware of our surroundings: Seeing swallows swooping over the water is a sure sign of a hatch in progress. Spotting insect activity on the stream bank, lake shore, or water’s surface can provide clues as to what the trout may be feeding on. Catching a glimpse of expanding ripples on the water’s surface is a telltale sign of where fish are feeding. We can even infer where fish are most likely to be located by taking note of things like topography, weed growth or current patterns. And even though most of what takes place below the water’s surface remains shrouded in mystery, distorted or hidden from view by the rippling air/water interface, fly fishing is a visual game.
Things are not much different for the trout. Being observant can mean the difference between differentiating between edible morsels in the drift, and the mix of debris and artificial flies that are a waste of time and energy; between successfully securing their next meal, or allowing valuable calories to pass on by; between maximizing growth, egg production, and brawn on the spawning beds, and failing to compete successfully in the world of trout courtship; and between surviving to pass on their genetic material to the next generation, or falling prey to some unseen predator. Vision also plays a key role in the underwater world of the trout.
For the casual angler, understanding how and what a trout sees is an often neglected piece of the fly fishing puzzle. But with so much ridding on the trout’s sense of vision, it should really be a consideration in everything we do; from fly and leader design, to how we approach and cast to feeding fish. In this series I will shed some light on trout vision, and how we can apply this knowledge on the water.
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| Sometimes it helps to imagine how things appear to the trout: The view upstream in a slow run on Stauffer Creek. Note the Corixid scooting to the surface to grab some air |
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