Food for Thought, or Thoughts on Food…

A favorite trout food?

In the course of midge fishing the other day I was reminded—as I always am when engaged in this pursuit—of just how much trout like eating midges.  Or at least it appears that they really like them because when midges are available trout almost always seem to feed on them.  It doesn’t appear to matter whether its midge larvae, pupae, or adults; trout readily eat them all.  This got me to thinking about where midges rank in order of preference as trout food.  The ranking of insects as food is a subject I’ve given a lot of previous thought to, but I’ve never actually taken the time to write out a list.  As we’re suffering through some major runoff in the Yellowstone area right now, this looks to be as good a time as any to do so.

So here’s my list of insects in order of trout preference, based on 40+ years of fly fishing:

1. Caddisfly pupae.

2. Small mayfly nymphs (#20-22) and all stages of midge.

3. Medium size mayfly nymphs.

4. Small mayfly duns.

5. Caddisfly adults.

6. Mayfly spinners of any size.

7. Medium size mayfly duns.

8. Large mayfly nymphs (non-swimmers).

9. Large mayfly duns.

10. Large stoneflies and grasshoppers.

Okay, I’d better clarify a couple things. These rankings sort of assume that the trout has a choice among all these insects at any given time.  Of course, we know this is hardly ever the case (but it could conceivably happen on a river like the Henry’s Fork—say, around the end of June).  More likely, trout will have a choice among only a few of the insects on this list.  So I’m extrapolating a bit.

I know this list isn’t comprehensive. But I think it covers a wide variety of the insects that river trout around here eat.

If this list rings at all true, I suspect it’s not because trout actually “like” eating one insect over another.  It’s probably because they see far more small insects than large, and feel safer eating small insects.  (The exception here is caddis pupae, which trout just seem inordinately fond of, in any size.)  And I also think trout are more comfortable feeding under the surface as opposed to on it, another plus for caddis pupae and nymphs.

I can make a case for medium size mayfly nymphs being placed anywhere from #3 to #7 on this list.  This was the most difficult call.  I might see it another way at any time.

That large stoneflies (salmonflies) and hoppers are dead last on the list might surprise some folks, especially given their notoriety in the West. But the fact is that while trout do eat these insects—at times, even with abandon—if given almost any other option they’re likely to take it. Seems strange, I know, but I’d bet most other longtime fishermen have found this to be true, too.

I suppose this exercise could be viewed as largely academic, but it does have a practical aspect.  I’ve experienced many instances where this list was my guide to a successful choice of fly pattern, as opposed to picking a fly based on the abundance of a particular insect on the water.  Just a bit of food for thought.

        

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Man Fishing and Bison

Taken Sunday, May 29, along the Firehole River in Yellowstone Park.

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Wounded Warriors and Opening Day on Firehole River

Two days ago, Friday the 27th, Coaches Jeff Fisher (retired Tenn Titans head coach) and his son Brandon (Detroit Lions secondary) and I spent the day with the Wounded Warrior Program on Spring Creek in the Madison Valley. It is such an awesome program, and an honor to work with our war heros. The photo attached at the end of this report show our friend Doug fighting a large brown trout that day. Doug remarked at the end of the day, "this has been one of the top 3 days in my life". Doug commanded a unit which has lost over 30 of its members during his tenure to the war. He suffers post traumatic stress syndrome and, according to him, his day on the creek was such a relief from his worries. Several times he remarked how great it was to be in the mountains, experience the Madison Valley and wild trout, and spend time learning to fish and be with new friends. At the end of the day tears came to his eyes, and those of all of us as we headed home. I look forward to working again with this program a couple more times this summer.

Yesterday, May 28th, was opening day of Yellowstone National Park's general fishing program. Cool-wet weather prevailed. Snow melt was stalled by the cool overnight temps and the river ran fairly clear. Pale Morning Dun and Baetis mayflies emerged from 1 to 4pm and the fish rose to them. Those anglers that braved the cold had a great opening day. As I type this on Sunday, May 29th, the snow is falling an inch an hour and I will bet the mayflies come off and the fish will rise again this afternoon during their emergence. Sparkle Duns, soft hackles and emerging patterns all worked well yesterday and should continue to provide good success as temps remain cool. We have plenty of snow to melt still in the mountains and once it warms the rivers will come into runoff again but as long as they stay clear the mayflies will hatch and the trout will rise and we will fish! Stay tuned here.

ps. the Madison below Quake Lake is fishing well now too with large rubber leg stone nymphs and streamers. Hebgen Lakes midges are ready to rolll should be get a couple warm afternoons and evenings later this week.

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Opening Day

An afternoon snow squall envelops an angler on the Firehole River on May 28.  Pale Morning Duns and Baetis emerged in good numbers, the water level was fine, and fish rose.  

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Into the Blue Again

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Page 9 of 28 pages