Today we continue our series of weekly posts straight from The Little Red Book of Fly Fishing – a new collection of 250 nuggets of fly fishing wisdom from Kirk Deeter and the late, great Charlie Meyers. We’re lucky enough to have gotten permission to post some excerpts from the book – read on!
Our tip for the day is about watching birds to know when and where insects are hatching.
If you find this kind of this useful, you can pick up your copy of The Little Red Book of Fly Fishing right here.
Watch the Birdie
Every bluewater angler worth his salt understands the message delivered by diving flocks of seabirds. Invariably, fish are feeding just below. Oddly, many freshwater fly fishers fail to capitalize on similar signs.
Let’s start with an inviolate premise: Birds never lie. When you see swallows swooping low over the surface, be assured aquatic insects are about. The same applies to redwings or warblers flitting frantically in streamside bushes. Is the damselfly hatch in progress? Look for shorebirds grazing actively at water’s edge.
Birds often respond to insect hatches ahead of trout. Take a hint from a feathered friend and you’ll be ready with the right bug before the rise, adding precious minutes to that most exciting time of day.
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