FAKE OUT
There are more ways to catch, than to simply match the hatch
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Trying to closely match the hatch can be befuddlingMATCH MISSES
I started fly fishing in 1985 at the impressionable age of 15, and took hatch matching as an article of faith. Now I’m convinced it’s often counterproductive. For one, it leaves you in a muddle if your imitations don’t match the naturals or you can’t find any bugs to match. Confidence keeps you focussed, engaged and fishing well; when you’re second-guessing your fly choices, the opposite happens. This feeds into the most harmful aspect of hatch matching.
An intense focus on accurate imitations makes anglers think that choosing the right pattern is the most crucial factor in fly fishing. It’s not. Presentation is almost always more important. Fly-fishing lore overflows with tales of selective fish fooled by the perfect fly. A few are legit, but most can be explained by anglers inadvertently changing their presentation—not by switching to an Ephemerella excrucians fly that’s light taupe instead of ecru.
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If you cast to a promising lie and don’t get a hit, you’re much better off to change your position, the length or angle of your cast, or the fly’s depth, speed or movement. Only when that doesn’t work should you consider changing flies—or just move to a new spot. I’ve watched anglers stand knee-deep in a run, tying on fly after fly, then declare the fish “too educated” to catch. Given a fish’s BB-sized brain, that seems doubtful.
Gamefish, even the holy trout, are not cultured or delicate. They are, however, exquisite predators, with a powerful drive to strike prey that appears edible and easy to catch. That is what I strive to match.