"The Wrong Fly"
Any fly fishing angler knows that the right fly is paramount to catching wild trout. The trick is knowing when to use the wrong one. We've all had those days on the river when all we see is trout rising like free balloons at a carnival; yet not one of our meticulously placed flies has succeed in doing its job. So we precede to try every fly in our box that matches every hatch we see; still with no results. This is where the "wrong fly" comes in.
Here's an example:
Thousands of Yellow Drakes are hatching under cloudy skies and it was lightly raining 3 hours ago. You've tried everything you own that matches that Yellow Drake except your Black Gnat. You decide what the hell, I know it's the "wrong fly" but it's all I have left. Wham! You're hooked up on your second cast.
How's this possible you might ask? I've simplified the technical answer for you as follows: A trouts vision is monumentally dependent on the quality of bright light. Under clear skies, a trouts color vision is precise and the color of your fly should match the color of current hatches as best as possible; yet when it's cloudy and the water has some noticeable color from the previous rain, trout tend to see more black and white. Under these conditions, it's best to focus on the silhouette your fly leaves rather than its color.
Next time your on the water and all the right flies aren't working, tie on the "wrong fly" and see what happens. Remember, you'll have to present your fly closer to that awaiting trout because of its distorted vision.
As always, catch the beauty and enjoy the fight.
Here's an example:
Thousands of Yellow Drakes are hatching under cloudy skies and it was lightly raining 3 hours ago. You've tried everything you own that matches that Yellow Drake except your Black Gnat. You decide what the hell, I know it's the "wrong fly" but it's all I have left. Wham! You're hooked up on your second cast.
How's this possible you might ask? I've simplified the technical answer for you as follows: A trouts vision is monumentally dependent on the quality of bright light. Under clear skies, a trouts color vision is precise and the color of your fly should match the color of current hatches as best as possible; yet when it's cloudy and the water has some noticeable color from the previous rain, trout tend to see more black and white. Under these conditions, it's best to focus on the silhouette your fly leaves rather than its color.
Next time your on the water and all the right flies aren't working, tie on the "wrong fly" and see what happens. Remember, you'll have to present your fly closer to that awaiting trout because of its distorted vision.
As always, catch the beauty and enjoy the fight.
