There have been countless ecological missteps taken by those attempting to protect fish because of errors in identification. Some were understandable, given the technology at the time. Others, including those of the last few generations, really stem from relying on hasty or superficial investigation. Anglers, who are not only the beneficiaries of conservation efforts but also some of the boots-on-the-ground movers, should be versed enough to at least know how to observe.
To be clear: taking the time to observe specific morphological markers in the fish you catch probably won’t translate into catching more or bigger fish. However, the kind of scrutiny that analyzes spot patterns, fin size, and flank coloration is akin to the constant enquiry that takes in the variables that lead to catching more or bigger fish.
There is a link to the rest of the post, Observation: The Angler’s Science after the jump.
But before you do that, be sure to check out the two videos I’ve included in today’s post. One is a (free) grad level class on a productive fishing strategy, the other
Watch the videos, and find a link to the article, below:
Head to “The Pursuit of Fish” on Trout & Feather to read my posts, including Observation: The Angler’s Science.
45 minutes on dry/dropper fishing. Yes. 45. And do you want to know something? The surface is only getting scratched. This collaborative video with Paul Gaskell is a grad level survey of this technique.
Some of the best patterns are simple variations on the best patterns. Here’s a zebra midge with a few little twists that ought to be a standard in your tiny fly box.
Have any tying or fishing questions for Tim or me? Please leave a comment below.
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