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The Spinner pattern has advantage of being easier to fish below surface. During fall, Trico’s drown and fish often slurp up these delicacies below surface, for safer feeding. Trout are less selective sub-surface and thus it makes for easier imitation as well.
Fishing:
Most fish caught during Trico hatch are taken fairly close to angler, twelve to twenty feet. Accurate casts are required especially during spinner falls when fish congregate. If casting accurately isn’t your forte, then fishing actual hatch is probably your best bet. Using slower action rods often enhances casting accuracy, and absorb much of shock when fish strike to protect tippets. To learn more about rod selection read: http://www.bigyflyco.com/choosingaflyrod.html.
As mentioned earlier light tippets are rule. Fishing tiny flies requires a drag free drift, and once hooked fish will need to be finessed or they will break your fly off. Try to lead your fish out of feeding lanes by pointing your rod tip down and forcing them to shore, thus spooking less fish, and getting your fish into slower water will ease its landing.
Since Trico hatch is long in many areas trout become more and more selective. During spinner fall they will often feed on females (cream color) first and males (black) second. It often pays off to switch flies during fall, it is often difficult to rationalize, to take time this requires, when fish are rising everywhere. If you are fortunate enough to have two rods handy, rig them up before hitting water.
If you are having no luck, try forcing your pattern sub-surface. This works especially well for Trico Spinner pattern. Fish are often more vicious feeders under water and less selective. It is often way fly fishing novice’s catch their first trout during Trico hatch.
Summary:
Perhaps more than any other fly fishing experience, Trico hatch teaches us patience, perseverance, and joys of catching fish. Summer is a glorious time to be on water, and Trico hatch gives us an excuse to let that paint fade just one more year
Cameron Larsen is a retired commericial fly tier and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company. Http://www.bigyflyco.com. He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com. This article will appear in the Big Y Fly Fishing E-Zine at Http://www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html