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What  Trout React to                                               

    In my opinion, trout react to 5 things when deciding whether or not to strike.  There is a definite order to these things in importance.  There is argument as to the order, but here are mine.

    1. Presentation - How does the trout perceive the drift of my fly vs. the natural

    2. Size vs. the natural

    3. Silhouette - Does the imitation look like the natural.  Many imitations look good to us but how  about from under the water.

    4. Shade - Different shades reflect or absorb light differently; however I do not know how to imitate shade without imitating color.

    5. Color - Most will be surprised that color is last.  Especially since fly shops carry thousands of different colored dubbing, wings, thread, etc.   I definitely try to imitate color because of #4 above.

Here's something to ponder.  Can your fly be too good?

I can remember some Trico hatches where there are literally thousands of naturals on the water and large trout sippin' them one after another.  But wait, I played the odds in a prior life and if my imitation is just like the naturals, I've got to be a 100-1 underdog.  Let's tie on something a little bit different; second cast, BINGO, a 20 inch Brown.