When the trout streams get low and the insect hatches become sparse, you will occasionally see very delicate rise forms resulting from trout sipping in a natural food. They may well be feeding on leaf hoppers. These tiny terrestrial insects float flat on the surface of the stream and normally I spot the rise form of the trout before I see the insects.
By chance I discovered that a dry fly I developed for a different hatch is very effective for these leaf hopper feeders. These are the Murray’s Dry Little Dark Stonefly size 18 and Murray’s Bronze Dry Stonefly Dry size 18. I’ll never forget tee first day I realized how effective these patterns are. They converted a so-so day on falling springs into one of the finest days of trout fishing I’ve ever had.
Since this feeding usually takes place in the flat parts on the streams, I use great care to get gentle presentations and drag free drifts. I use 7x leaders and try to make my first delivery perfect, using an accurately placed slack line puddle cast.
Yes, this is very demanding trout fishing, but once it is mastered, it is very gratifying.