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.
Comments
I was just fishing on the West Branch of the Delaware last evening. Sulphur duns were covering the water but the fish appeared to be only taking emergers- I never saw a dun being eaten. Also, a sulphur emerger sparkle dun pattern was taking fish on every good cast. Thus, when you refer to nymphs are you also referring to nymphs transitioning to duns? If not, then I would argue that mayfly emergers should be in a solid spot on your list.
By Eric Knight on 06/08 2011
Eric,
Yes, I am lumping “emergers” in with nymphs. I should have mentioned that. I count them together because I think of “emergers” as more nymph-like than dun-like, especially in terms of their vulnerability. Also, as a rule I don’t think fish discriminate too highly between “emergers” and nymphs. I should probably note too that when I am referring to nymphs I mean nymphs at the surface.
Thanks for reading and commenting. And I’m envious of your fishing. We’re inundated with water out here right now…
By John Juracek on 06/09 2011
I certainly have no substantive arguement with the ranking and will likely spend the evening thinking about the order and what applications it will have on the water.
Just out of curiosity John, if you were to expand the list to include meat (lazy, slow, injured/erratic baitfish, juvenile trout or crayfish) how do you think the list would change? Do you think the trout will take advantage of a properly placed and maniuplated meal over a bug?
By Mike Schmidt on 06/09 2011
Great article John. I fought it for a long time but finally had to accept the fact that for most of my fishing, smaller was better. Unfortunately older is not better so I am happy to see the big eye hooks in the smaller sizes.
Your selection of subjects has been excellent and a refreshing change from the typical ho=hum jabber of the typical fishing grind.
I have truly enjoyed this blog experience and want to thank BRF and all the people responsible for making it possible. I know it is a major commitment to publish news letters on time and oversee operations of this sort.
By lyle Rivera on 06/11 2011
Mike,
In a general sense I think trout would prefer meat; it would help them maximize their caloric intake. But I doubt that trout in most places have the opportunity to eat enough meat such that we could place it as a category on this list. I think it’s likely to be more of an opportunistic affair rather than a daily part of their diet. Thanks for your thoughts.
Lyle,
I appreciate your thoughts, and we’re glad you’re enjoying the blog. Thanks for taking the time to look at it.
By John Juracek on 06/11 2011
John - this was a great article in terms of developing and simplifying an overall approach to a trout stream. Anecdotally, I have on several occasions while fising ID/MT streams and rivers, out of frustration or curiosity, turned to a soft hackle caddis pupa pattern when all indications were mayflies only and nothing seemed to be happening. And out of nowhere comes a large brown or rainbow and inhales the pupa on or just under the surface. Now that all makes sense given your ranking and explanation. Many thanks.
By Rich P on 06/13 2011
Are you excluding caddis larvae (for example, the infamous green rock worm) or are they included in your pupa category?
Best,
Don
By Don Cox on 06/13 2011
Don,
I guess you’d say I’m excluding caddis larvae, because I’m thinking of the times when these various insects are available to the trout in concentrated numbers. I’m not aware of situations in which trout prey on concentrated numbers of caddis larvae.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
By John Juracek on 06/13 2011
Interesting post. So you’re basically saying that out West given the choice, the trout would prefer to eat caddis pupae over all other insect life in the river if available all at the same time. I must say I’m not surprised that caddis tops the list, but I am surprised that stoneflys are so low in the order. In my experience, huge stonefly nymphs take the majority of the large trout here in the Adirondacks more than any other species, regardless of what else is happening in the river. Are you saying only stonefly drys are at the bottom of the list with the hoppers, or stonefly nymphs as well? Where would a bitch breek or yuk bug fall in line on this list?
By Papa Bear's Outdoors on 06/14 2011
How about small terrestrials, like ants, flying ants, beetles, boatmans, etc.?
By Pakalolo on 06/14 2011
Papa,
Yes, I’m only referring to adult stoneflies. But if trout had access to a reliable concentration of large stonefly nymphs (as they sometimes appear to get just prior to emergence) I think the nymphs would be fairly high up the ranking. To your point about large stone nymphs taking large trout, they certainly do that here as well. But that’s a different issue, more related to catching than food preference.
Pakalolo,
I excluded small terrestrials just to sort of keep the list manageable, and because with the exception of flying ants most other small terrestrials generally aren’t too concentrated. But there is no doubt that when flying ants are on the waters of this area, trout eat them avidly. In fact, they relish them. If I were to put them on the list, they’d be right near the top…
By John Juracek on 06/14 2011
John, Can see why you left them out since they’re terrestrial and not commonly encountered, but trout will charge spruce fly moths for over a yard when they are on the water. In my experience they are the trouts’ favorite insect.
As previously mentioned, flying ants rank right up there, too.
By Tim Sullivan on 06/16 2011
Tim,
Thanks for commenting. Yes, I was originally going to leave terrestrial insects off the list entirely, but then went ahead and stuck grasshoppers on there. Probably shouldn’t have included them without flying ants and other insects like Spruce moths, but I thought my list was already long enough. As you say, trout seem to love Spruce moths. No doubt about it. I frequently wonder why they’re such such avid fans of moths and flying ants. Perhaps it’s because they don’t see either on a regular basis and consider both a real treat. (Wait now, that might be getting a bit anthropomorphic!...)
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