For 30 years I tried to match the hatch while fly fishing, but now I barely bother. Here’s why

MATCH POINTS

Using an artificial that resembles actual food is truly one of sportfishing’s great insights. It goes beyond bugs, applying also to baitfish, crustaceans and other forage, all over the world. Today, the idea seems self-evident, yet it only gained traction in the mid-20th century when a cadre of influential anglers promoted a new, biology-based ethos of fly fishing. Prior to that, anglers leaned toward pretty, bright attractor flies designed to prompt a reaction bite.

For me, “match the hatch” means learning about the fish I’m pursuing and their aquatic environment, and observing what’s going on around me. What I never do (anymore) is carry around insect guidebooks, look under rocks or wave around a butterfly net. That’s because matching the hatch can cause problems when you start thinking it’s the one true way to catch fish, divinely inspired and chiselled into stone tablets.