| An angler should therefore become familiar with | | | | drop the fly not where the rise was but |
| the three main senses a trout uses. These are: | | | | upstream of where the rise was. By presenting a |
| Smell: | | | | fly upstream from the rise, the fly will float down |
| Trout have amazing powers of smell. For humans, | | | | the river naturally, not just suddenly appearing in |
| trying to understand smell underwater is rather | | | | the trout's cone of vision, which is likely to seem |
| difficult since we can't do it. However, trout have | | | | suspicious to a cunning trout. |
| no difficulty smelling underwater, so it is worth an | | | | Trout also have the ability to determine color, |
| anglers time to make sure that they aren't | | | | including subtle shades of color. This is why the |
| introducing foreign smells into a trout stream | | | | same fly in two different colors can produce |
| (which can warn a trout to a lurking danger such | | | | remarkably different results when fishing, the |
| as a fisherman.) | | | | trout may simply be eating one color insect and |
| When fly fishing for trout, do your best to avoid | | | | avoiding others. |
| any artificial smells that are completely foreign to | | | | Lastly, trout also have the ability to see the |
| a trout stream. Avoiding these smells, though, of | | | | profile of a fly. Of all the characteristics of a fly, |
| often easier said than done, as the sources of | | | | this is perhaps the most important. A fly that |
| these smells can come from many sources. Fly | | | | does not have the same profile as seen from |
| line cleaners, fly floatants, epoxies and glue can all | | | | underwater compared to what they are |
| contribute alien smells to a trout stream. Other | | | | accustomed to eating, is not likely to be very |
| things such as aftershave, deodorant and even | | | | successful. For this reason, it is always important |
| the smell of your clothing can all tip off a trout | | | | to make sure that your flies float properly, |
| that an angler is near. | | | | especially when dry fly fishing. |
| Obviously, you can't get rid of all foreign smells | | | | Moreover, even if your dry fly is a spitting |
| you may introduce into a trout stream. However, | | | | imitation of the real thing, it is not likely to draw |
| there are a number of easy things a fisherman | | | | strikes if your fly floats awkwardly (or partially |
| can do to reduce the likelihood of a trout getting | | | | sinks). |
| wise due to smell. When using fly line cleaners and | | | | This is a good reason to avoid the real cheap flies |
| fly floatants, use the newer ones that are | | | | you may see - the colors of these cheap flies |
| designed to "mask" the chemical smell. The | | | | may look right, but the profile is likely to be |
| cleaners and floatants are usually the same price | | | | wrong when on the water. |
| as other "non-masking" chemicals, but can go a | | | | Sound: |
| long way towards reducing the likelihood of a | | | | Trout have an acute sense of hearing that is well |
| trout becoming alert to the fisherman due to | | | | worth understanding. Trout have two sound |
| smell. | | | | receptors. The first one runs along the length of |
| Also, before hitting a challenging trout stream, it | | | | the fish's body. This receptor picks up frequency |
| never hurts to leave the cologne and other fancy | | | | vibrations - such as the banging of rocks or oars |
| deodorants back in the hotel room. On a | | | | against a boat. A second receptor, located inside |
| challenging trout stream, an angler needs every | | | | the trout's ear, is used to detect the movement |
| edge they can get, and avoiding strange smells to | | | | of aquatic insects which the trout eats. This |
| finicky trout is a good way to do this. | | | | receptor is extremely acute, allowing the trout to |
| Remember, trout have very powerful senses of | | | | hear sound frequencies well outside the human |
| smell. It is only logical that they will use this sense | | | | hearing range. This hearing receptor of the trout |
| to identify flies presented their way to determine | | | | is what allows the fish to find food even in very |
| whether or not is something that is good to eat. | | | | murky water. |
| A funny smelling fly, due to either chemical | | | | Because trout have such acute senses of hearing, |
| floatants or inadvertently smelling like Old Spice, is | | | | anglers need to keep several things in mind when |
| a good way to send a trout away from your fly | | | | fishing for trout. |
| and onto more "naturally" smelling food. | | | | First, trout can't hear human voices outside of the |
| Sight: | | | | water. Thus, having a loud conversation about |
| Sight is of crucial important to trout, which is not | | | | something along the bank of a river will not spook |
| surprising. After all, it's the sense that they use | | | | the trout. |
| when determining whether or not to eat | | | | Second, trout are acutely aware of vibrations and |
| something that comes their way. Trout, in | | | | sound that occur in the river. Banging oars on the |
| particular, have excellent close-range vision | | | | side of a boat is a wonderful way to alert the |
| although they lack in long-range vision. This close | | | | trout to your presence, thus spooking them. |
| range vision by the trout is why so many | | | | Likewise, great care should be taken when |
| imitation flies may fail to grab the interest of a | | | | wading. Wading loudly, either caused or by the |
| trout - the trout can easily determine if given | | | | splashing of the water or the movement of rocks |
| time if the fly looks like something it is | | | | beneath the angler's feet, is easily heard by a |
| accustomed too. | | | | trout - especially in slower moving water. In fast |
| A trout sees the world through what is known as | | | | water, these vibrations tend to get drowned out |
| the "trout's window". This window is a cone | | | | by the current and rapids. But in slower water, |
| shaped view that extends up from the eye at an | | | | such as runs or spring creeks, it is crucial that an |
| ever-increasing diameter. Thus, the deeper the | | | | angler take care when wading. |
| trout is, the more the trout can see. | | | | Third, trout are easily able to hear things that fall |
| A trout will only eat something that passes within | | | | into a river, especially in slower water. A nearby |
| this cone of vision since this is where they can | | | | trout can readily hear a grasshopper or other bug |
| see it and inspect it. Due to their other excellent | | | | that falls into the river. Because of this, care must |
| senses, trout may very well be aware of | | | | be taken in casting to prevent the fly line from |
| something on the water that is outside of this | | | | making a splash in the water or from having the |
| cone of vision. But a trout consider eating it if it | | | | fly itself strike the river at full force. A gently |
| sees the fly in their cone of vision. | | | | dropping fly is far more likely to attract the |
| This knowledge leads to one strategy all anglers | | | | attention of a trout than one that gets slammed |
| should use when fishing to rising trout. When fly | | | | into the river due to a bad cast or too heavy of |
| fishing to a rising trout, it is very important to | | | | a fly or fly line. |