{"id":934,"date":"2010-02-25T16:14:29","date_gmt":"2010-02-25T22:14:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/blog\/?p=934"},"modified":"2010-02-25T16:14:29","modified_gmt":"2010-02-25T22:14:29","slug":"joys-and-agonies-of-fly-fishing-the-trico-hatch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/blog\/joys-and-agonies-of-fly-fishing-the-trico-hatch\/","title":{"rendered":"Joys and agonies of fly fishing the trico hatch"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin: 0pt 5px; float: left; font-size: 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);\" id=\"hidefrompromo\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/merleloman.smugmug.com\/Fly-Fishing-Montana-with\/All-our-rivers\/Trico-hatch-in-western-Montana\/11338999_NSBJ5#796276760_xG9sa\"><img style=\"width: 239px; height: 188px;\" alt=\"Trout rise form during a trico hatch\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/_twjVsg9p-90\/S4bTINdaPnI\/AAAAAAAAS_g\/F_uIOlfqQQg\/s200\/Trico4.jpg\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"padding-left: 10px;\">Trout rise form during a trico hatch<br \/>\nPhoto by Merle Ann Loman<\/span><!-- **** This is the end of the default image box **** --> <!-- **** This is the start of the default image box **** --> <\/p>\n<hr style=\"border: 0pt none ; background-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); color: rgb(217, 217, 217); height: 1px;\">\n<h2 style=\"padding: 10px 0pt 10px 10px;\">Related Articles<br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<ul style=\"margin-top: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); width: 260px;\">\n<li><!--link--><a href=\"http:\/\/www.examiner.com\/examiner\/x-23615-Billings-Outdoor-Recreation-Examiner%7Ey2010m2d24-Six-Ps-tips-for-fly-fishing-the-trico-hatch-in-western-Montana\" target=\"_blank\"><!--headline -->Six &#8220;P&#8221;s &#8211; tips on trico fishing<\/a> &#8211; companion article #2<\/li>\n<li><!--link--><a href=\"http:\/\/www.examiner.com\/x-23615-Billings-Outdoor-Recreation-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d23-When-is-the-best-time-to-fish-western-Montana\" target=\"_blank\"><!--headline --> When is the best time to fish western Montana<\/a><\/li>\n<li><!--link--><a href=\"http:\/\/www.examiner.com\/x-23615-Billings-Outdoor-Recreation-Examiner%7Ey2010m2d19-5-great-rivers-in-Montana\" target=\"_blank\"><!--headline -->Five great rivers for fishing and family recreation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><!--link--><a href=\"http:\/\/www.west-fly-fishing.com\/entomology\/mayfly\/trico.shtml\" target=\"_blank\"><!--headline -->About Trico &#8211; genus Tricorythodes<\/a><\/li>\n<p><!--end of list--><\/ul>\n<p><!-- **** This is the end of the default image box **** --><\/div>\n<p>This is the first article in a pair about fly fishing the trico hatch in western Montana. The second is about <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.examiner.com\/examiner\/x-23615-Billings-Outdoor-Recreation-Examiner%7Ey2010m2d24-Six-Ps-tips-for-fly-fishing-the-trico-hatch-in-western-Montana\">six tips to improve your success<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Within the fishing season there are times that one really anticipates. For many in western Montana, it is the Skwalla or salmon fly hatches early in the year. These two stonefly hatches are famous for bringing up big fish and they both come at times when you are anxious to fish &#8212; spring before high water and right at receding high water. But another hatch later in the year will get trout feeding on top on a consistent daily basis.<\/p>\n<p>The trico mayfly hatch produces spinner falls where trout jam for 2-3 hours in the morning. And, because the trico hatch lasts so many weeks, mid-August through September, one has to devise a strategy to deal with this important time. No other mayfly species is so intense.<\/p>\n<p>The reasons so many surface feeding trout can be found gulping tricos have to do with the slight decrease in the water temperatures of a late summer morning and the hundreds of mayflies on the water. It is a signal to the trout that fall is coming and winter is just around the corner. \u201cWe need to stock up,\u201d they are saying. The joy is seeing all these targets. But, despite the sheer number of tricos dancing in the air, loads of spinner falls on the water, and the active pods of sipping trout, the trout can be very difficult to catch during this hatch. The water is flat, the sun bright, and trout see so many naturals. How do you get them to take your imitation? This can be agonizing.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.examiner.com\/examiner\/examinerslideshow.html?entryid=1034715\" target=\"_blank\">See slideshow of trico hatches, fish rise forms and more on Montana rivers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"margin: 10pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); color: rgb(102, 102, 102);\"><a href=\"http:\/\/merleloman.smugmug.com\/Fly-Fishing-Montana-with\/All-our-rivers\/Trico-hatch-in-western-Montana\/11338999_NSBJ5#796276760_xG9sa\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"buck crossing the river above a riffle\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/_twjVsg9p-90\/S4bUPdlBTBI\/AAAAAAAAS_o\/SR-ydEVuTuE\/s200\/Trico10.jpg\" height=\"169\" width=\"136\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nBuck crossing the river<br \/>\nPhoto by Merle Ann Loman<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>Typically, western Montana\u2019s trout fly fishing and guiding season lasts from mid-March through mid-October making trico season a very significant part. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/ww_about_jcm.html\">Jack Mauer of Wapiti Waters<\/a> shares a few tidbits of information and wisdom that he has gained over 25 years of guiding fly fishermen and hopefully it will improve your catch rate. No doubt about it, targeting trout that are coming to the surface and feeding on these tiny aquatic insects requires a little different skill set. The best spinner falls are on partly sunny days. When the light reflects off the water and through the tippet, it will shine like a diamond necklace and alert the fish to you and your dry fly.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 10pt 10pt 10px 0pt; float: left; font-size: 10px; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); color: rgb(102, 102, 102);\"><a href=\"http:\/\/merleloman.smugmug.com\/Fly-Fishing-Montana-with\/All-our-rivers\/Trico-hatch-in-western-Montana\/11338999_NSBJ5#796276760_xG9sa\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Classic trico water on the Bitterroot River\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/_twjVsg9p-90\/S4bUtPpz6II\/AAAAAAAAS_w\/_X6QwWJCmUA\/s200\/Trico3.jpg\" height=\"143\" width=\"201\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nClassic trico water on in western Montana<br \/>\nPhoto by Merle Ann Loman<\/div>\n<p>You can be doing everything right, make good presentation, hook a beautiful fish with a nice slow hook set, play him for one long run and then have him shake the hook or break off in a weed bed. This is where the joy can turn to agony. But therein lies the challenge of what trout fishing is all about.<\/p>\n<p>This is some of the toughest, most technical angling that one encounters during the season, but it also is some of the most gratifying. A morning of trico fishing is something Jack really looks forward to every year because of the challenges and rewards of catching trout during this time. To reap the rewards yourself read the second article discussing the six \u201cP\u201ds to better success in trico fishing. The six \u201cP\u201ds are patterns, precision of presentation, patience, persistence, practice, and pulse. Here is  a link to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.examiner.com\/examiner\/x-23615-Billings-Outdoor-Recreation-Examiner%7Ey2010m2d24-Six-Ps-tips-for-fly-fishing-the-trico-hatch-in-western-Montana\">Jack&#8217;s Six &#8220;P&#8221;s of trico fishing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: left;\"> <\/div>\n<div style=\"margin: 5px; padding: 5px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><strong>For more info:<\/strong><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin: 5px; padding: 5px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/fwp.mt.gov\/fishing\/default.html\">Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks<\/a> \u2013 <\/strong><strong>Fishing information<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/ww_hatch.html\" target=\"_blank\">Wapiti Waters Fly Fishing Montana<\/a>  <\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>\u2013 Seasonal hatch primer for western Montana<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.westfly.com\/entomology\/entomology.shtml\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Westfly Entomology<\/strong><\/a> <strong>\u2013 For the western fly fishing community<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/merleloman.smugmug.com\/Fly-Fishing-Montana-with\/All-our-rivers\/When-is-the-best-time-to-fish\/10066342_YZqqE#690362308_gAfbJ\">Merle\u2019s SmugMug photo site<\/a> \u2013 More river and fishing photos in their original format<br \/>\n<\/strong>Incudes Big Hole, Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork, and Missouri rivers during the months of March through November with captions<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/merleloman.smugmug.com\/Fly-Fishing-Montana-with\/All-our-rivers\/Trico-hatch-in-western-Montana\/11338999_NSBJ5#796276760_xG9sa\"><strong>Trico slideshow photos in bigger resolution on Merle&#8217;s SmugMug site<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em><strong>If you like these articles, be the first to see them, subscribe by email (see above), by <\/strong><\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.examiner.com\/RSS-23615-Billings-Outdoor-Recreation-Examiner.rss\"><em><strong>RSS<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong>, <\/strong><\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/AMontanaView\"><em><strong>Twitter<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong>, or <\/strong><\/em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/amontanaview?ref=profile\"><em><strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><object align=\"middle\" height=\"400\" width=\"400\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http:\/\/www.smugmug.com\/ria\/ShizamSlides-2007090601.swf?AlbumID=11338999&amp;AlbumKey=NSBJ5&amp;transparent=true&amp;crossFadeSpeed=500&amp;clickUrl=http:\/\/www#46;smugmug#46;com\"><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\"><param name=\"bgcolor\" value=\"000000\"><param name=\"allowNetworking\" value=\"all\"><param name=\"allowScriptAccess\" value=\"always\"><embed src=\"http:\/\/www.smugmug.com\/ria\/ShizamSlides-2007090601.swf?AlbumID=11338999&amp;AlbumKey=NSBJ5&amp;transparent=true&amp;crossFadeSpeed=500&amp;clickUrl=http:\/\/www#46;smugmug#46;com\" wmode=\"transparent\" type=\"application\/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allownetworking=\"all\" height=\"400\" width=\"400\"><\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trout rise form during a trico hatch Photo by Merle Ann Loman Related Articles Six &#8220;P&#8221;s &#8211; tips on trico fishing &#8211; companion article #2 When is the best time to fish western Montana Five great rivers for fishing and family recreation About Trico &#8211; genus Tricorythodes This is the first article in a pair [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[175,173,176,194],"tags":[237,54,13,58,201,6,257],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/934"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=934"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/934\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":935,"href":"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/934\/revisions\/935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wapiti-waters.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}