Fly Fishing Tips: Understanding Trout Vision for Successful Fly Selection
If you are a fly angler, you have probably experienced the daunting task of selecting the right fly to outsmart your opponent, the trout. While there are many factors to consider, understanding how fish view the fly can take your fly selection to the next level. In this post, we'll discuss the three important elements of trout vision: motion, contrast, and color.
Motion: The Realistic Drift
The key to drawing trout in is realistic motion. As a fly angler, you may have heard the term "drag-free drift" - this refers to the free-floating nymph's behavior in drift, adult stonefly skittering across the surface of a pool, and sculpin darting and pausing to elude a predator. Trout can both "feel" these movements through their lateral line and track them with their eyes. In the ever-moving and flowing world of trout, realistic motion is essential.
Contrast: Making Your Fly Stand Out
Trout are engineered to detect contrast. A contrasting element tied into your artificial fly helps make it pop out to trout. Silver wire over black, brass beads next to peacock herl, or a dark foam body used to float a dry put trout in attack mode! Contrast is particularly important when fishing at night. Trout are not interested in counting the number of tails on your nymph imitation, but if it has the general profile of a natural and offers some contrast to its surroundings, get ready to set the hook!
Color: The Spectrum of Light
The eye of the trout can detect four spectrums of light: Red, Green, Blue, and Ultraviolet (this spectrum fades out at two years of age). However, light behaves differently in water than in air. In perfectly clear water, all red wavelengths are absorbed, so it appears black to a trout, while blue remains visible to a depth of 60 feet. This fading to black is also true on a horizontal plane, so a fly needs to be close to a fish for its full brilliance to be viewed.
In summary, when selecting a fly, it is essential to consider the terrain and conditions to determine which invertebrates are present in, on, and around the water. While attempting to match the size, profile, and color of the naturals can be a good starting point, understanding how fish view the fly can make all the difference. Perfect your drift, focus on contrast within your patterns, and try utilizing more purples and blues to penetrate murky spring waters. By understanding trout vision, you can increase your chances of outsmarting your opponent and catching more fish.
