Terrestrials

Now is the time to use terrestrials – aquatic insect hatches are waning, but terrestrials are out in force. Grasshoppers, beetles, and ants are all great choices this time of year. They frequently fall into the water, and unlike aquatic insects, they have no way to get out. Trout know terrestrials are vulnerable in the water, and as such are quite willing to hit them.

Patterns

This year I’ve had a lot of success with the AZ mini hopper. It’s easy and cheap to tie, floats like a cork, and just looks buggy. I’ve been tying them on size 12 streamer hooks, as these are more durable than dry fly hooks and you don’t have to worry about the extra weight on a foam fly. I’ve also tied a few on size 16 dry fly hooks, but I think these better resemble a beetle than a hopper.

This Brookie took a size 16 Mini Hopper

I’m also a big fan of the Turck’s Power Ant. With its long rubber legs, I think it looks more like a spider than an ant. Perhaps non-coincidentally, one of my best days with this fly came when I saw a bunch of large spiders on the bank. It also works great for panfish.

This Brookie took a size 12 Mini Hopper

There’s surely many more terrestrial patterns that produce fish – don’t limit yourself!

Locations

Terrestrials work great on small streams – one study I read found that they can make up 85% of a trout’s diet in a small stream. That terrestrials work well on small streams makes a lot of sense – not only are aquatic insects less common on these streams, but a larger portion of the water in a small stream is close enough to the bank for land-borne bugs to fall in. Streams bordering meadows are ideal, as these are home to far more insects than forests, but these streams can also have issues with water temperature at this time of year, so be sure to check the temperature before you fish.

A nice bank pool on a White Mountain Stream 

Terrestrials can also work well on larger rivers and on ponds. A hopper or power ant is my go-to fly when fishing for panfish in lakes with overhanging trees, and sometimes a bass will take a terrestrial. On larger rivers, look for deep water near banks, especially in grassy areas, or areas with many over hanging trees. I’ve heard that even the picky fish at the Swift will take a terrestrial, though I’ve only fished it in winter so I can’t say for sure.

Strategies

Terrestrials often land hard, so don’t worry too much about finesse when casting. I like to try to cast as close to the bank as possible, but I’ve also caught plenty of fish in the middle of the stream, so it may not be worth the risk of getting snagged. I usually try to dead drift the fly, but sometimes I will give it a small twitch – grasshoppers in particular create a lot of commotion on the water. Don’t spend too much time on any piece of water – terrestrials are east for the fish to see, and they are willing to move a good distance for the large meal, so if you don’t get a bite within the first few casts, the fish in that spot probably aren’t interested.