Refusal Analysis

Why trout snub your fly, and what you can do about it.

It was the first downpour in weeks and we headed to the river, my driftboat in tow, excited about the prospect of finding rising fish. After reaching the landing, as I readied the boat, my friend Rick stood mesmerized, staring at the river. Mayflies were everywhere and pods of trout methodically picked them off with gentle rises.

“Baetis?” he asked after plucking one from the air.

“Yup.” I replied. “Did you tie up some of those cripples I suggested?”

“Sure did,” he said.

We launched the boat and I rowed over to the far bank. As I cut across the river, the fish were momentarily put down but were back up before I could drop anchor. Rick was out of the boat and casting to rising fish and I hadn’t even taken my rod out of the case. However, I could tell from his muted expletives that things weren’t going well.

I watched his fly drift toward a rising trout. The fish ascended, as if to engulf the fly…only to drop away at the last second. It was a classic refusal.

“I drift the fly over a riser, it comes up and looks but then turns away.” Rick’s voice had an incredulous tone.

“Why do you think that is?” I queried, not wanting to let him off the hook.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe it’s seeing my tippet?”

It happens to all anglers: Conditions are perfect, you’re dialed in, but the trout just won’t take your fly. They swim up to inspect it, but then give you the trout equivalent of flipping the bird (or fin, as it were). Refusals can be frustrating, but by examining and analyzing the factors that cause a trout to refuse your fly you’ll have the information needed to adapt your techniques and get more hookups. ... Read More »



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