The Telltale Rise

The Telltale Rise

An angler can often tell what type of fly to use by watching the rises of fish in a run. 

This is where the ability to read water directly influences fly selection. Learning to read water so you understand what insects fish probably are eating in a given stretch is the step that jumps an angler from Fly Fishing 101 straight into graduate school.

The slow, methodical rise and slurp with the nose of the trout visibly breaking the surface is a classic mayfly feed. When you see a fish porpoise, and the water being disturbed without a nose breaking the surface, you can figure the trout is likely picking off emergers just below the surface. A fast, splashy rise indicates that a fish is eating caddis swimming to the top. A super-subtle sip often suggests that the fish is keyed on midges.

And a grasshopper take can be anything from a violent gulp to a long, laborious slurp; even a newbie will know that at first glance.

Chances to observe fish feeding without casting often can be worth their weight in gold. Take the time to observe risers and their distinct feeding patterns, or lack thereof. All these clues, even if small, help provide invaluable information in an angler’s life-long education.