"Vole-Vasion": Year of the Mouse 2.0

All the ingredients are there.  It could be good.

A couple weeks ago I found myself perusing the local newspaper during a slow moment at work.  While scanning for a captivating headline I happened upon an article titled "Vole-Vasion." It was in the farm and ranch section. Words like "plaque," "mild winter," and "epidemic" were used to describe the current rise in vole population. If you are a farmer, rancher, or like having a yard less holy than a priest, this is bad news.  As I read through the article I couldn't help but think of the implications on the mousing expeditions yet to come throughout the rapidly approaching summer.  The gist of the article was that voles (and I am assuming mice fit into the same category) were already a big problem going into our previous fall season and Idaho never really got the hard freeze it is so accustomed to. The harsh cold usually kills and slows rodent populations.  The result was the already burgeoning vole population from the previous fall has exploded.  The population supposedly grows and shrinks with a regularity like a pendulum swinging back and forth.  It's a 10-12 year cycle and we happen to be on a peak.  Bad news for the green thumbs and country folk who like their lawns less pitted but such good news for an angler wanting to chuck a fly that resembles a little furry mammal.

It was with these high hopes that we hit the road about 9:30 in the pm.  It was a cloudless and dark night.  Cruising down the empty highway we spied the intermittent critter scooting across the road. "Why did the mouse cross the road?"  Who knows, but there were a ton of them!  All the mice on the road bolstered my confidence in hitting the water.  After parking we climbed out of the car to cool air and a star-filled sky.  The milky way is so stunning on moonless nights, especially when you get away from civilization.  We quickly rigged up and hit the water.  First cast, SPLOOSH!  The characteristic toilet-bowl-flush/water-exploding sound gets the adrenaline going! It was a swing and a miss, but it still instilled confidence.  The night was spent with far more misses than hits, but there were so many explosions it was a hoot.  The Artimouse worked stripped and dead drifted. These browns tore line from the reel like crazy.  One even gave me a line burn. Mousing is so addicting!

I had taken a break from fishing and social media over the past month. It was a fitting trip to resume angling. The article had it right.  It's like Mars Attacks, only with mice/voles.  The implication?  This summer could be epic.

Tips: Night Fishing - Part 2 "Mousing"

When but a wee lad I was convinced that the banjo minnow could work miracles. Truth be told, I never actually fished one, not even once. It wasn't for lack of owning them. I badgered my parents until they purchased a set. Still, they never touched a body of water, though I can't remember why. Many an hour was spent watching bass fishing shows like Bill Dance Outdoors and Fishing with Roland Martin. It was the closest a little kid could get to fishing all the time, being too young to drive. The bug was bone deep from a very young age. I ached to be on the water, it called to me, and yet I was at the mercy of those with the means of transportation. The time was not wasted though.  A thirst to understand the whys behind the hows of catching fish was growing, and an attitude of exploration resulted. When you can't be fishing in body you can certainly be thinking about it and that leads you to wonder how to better do it, where better to do it at, and the whys behind both. Trying to think like a fish results in success and turns fishing into a myriad of mysteries to solve, and repeated success makes you feel like you're slowly solving those perplexing puzzles. It's intoxicating. Like the watch-maker slowly taking apart a new watch to see how it runs, anglers can try to pull apart their experiences on the water, and trying to recreate the good times becomes a satisfying game.

There will always be fish that refuse catching by traditional means. For these fickle fins some would give the perfunctory "oh well" and move on to an easier quarry. Some assume because nothing is caught, nothing must be there. These mysterious creatures dance to the beat of a different drum. Their feeding habits are far different from the bulk of fish seen feeding throughout the day. Catching any fish of any size is a hoot, but there is something addicting about trying to get the ones that rarely get got. I am prone to think that there are more of these hard-to-catch fish in most moderate to larger sized watersheds than our angler egos would like to think exist. A river's biomass can tell you a lot about the fish you aren't seeing.

Mystery Of The Mouse

It was to be this years angling focus, my "fishing goal" if you will, to unravel this particular mystery. Mice are not often thought of as potential piscatorial morsels. Simply put, most people don't realize that fish eat mice. How could they? Why would they? Where would it even happen? (can you picture an obese brown trout waddling onto land, in the dark, a maniacal grin on its face, and sneaking up on a poor unsuspecting mouse... I smell a campy horror movie in the works. Move over Night of the Clown, it's Night of the Brown!) When would it happen? I think it's safe to say that only a small handful of people in the world have ever witnessed a mouse being eaten by a fish in the wild. Sure, there are some places where mice are stupidly abundant, but even in those places I wonder how often the actual event is witnessed. If you're still in doubt a simple internet search will reveal that it does in fact happen though. I think we would be surprised to see what is in most big fish gullets. Maybe we just need larger stomach pumps to witness the mayhem.

Mousing has slowly grown in popularity over the past few years, though its newness is like that of a new, used car. Some folks have been in the fishy mouse club for years, and the tactic has still managed to fly under the radar. Movies like Once In A Blue Moon and Eastern Rises really made a splash among anglers, and brought a greater awareness to the fish-eating-mice phenomenon. Social media has also played its part in the past couple years, to some people's chagrin.  Mousing in Alaska has become quite the craze and more is being written, photographed, and filmed about fly fishing with mice every week.

Deer in headlights look saying, "Did that really just happen?"

Tips: Night Fishing - Part 2 "Mousing"

If you are just tuning in, there are two previous posts that would be worth your time. Together they preface this post. Check out Night Fishing - Part 1 "The Basics"  and  Fly Tying the Artimouse to get up to speed.

Mousing is an addiction that may be good not to acquire; especially mousing at night.  You'll lose sleep when you should be snoozing and when at work you might find yourself slowly drifting into a hazy daydream, as the memory of that massive and loud explosion in the water returns to haunt your thoughts... if only the hook had stuck. For trout I can think of no other way of fishing that produces such violent and entertaining takes.  The still, calm of the night is ravaged by generous amounts of sound and roiling water when a fish decides to take a mouse. It's not dry fly fishing, but more like streamer fishing on the surface of the water, where you can't help but witness the gleeful carnage. Again, mousing can be remarkably addicting, though it is not without work.  So, to the curious angler I say, give it a try, but be careful, you might unknowingly be joining the midnight mousing club. 

Just do it. Fortunately, most places have mice. You don't have to plan and pay for some elaborate Alaskan adventure to stick fish on mice. There is a secret to it though; just do it. The biggest and best advice I could give on mousing is to just do it. The more your fly is in the water the more likely you will find success. It is the universal truth of angling. Most folks tie on a mouse, cast for maybe an hour and then give up and switch to one of their usual patterns. I am by no means an expert on any topic of fly fishing, but I do find success on occasion. It's not because of some great mystery, or from knowing the secret honey hole, no, I just work to understand the why, when, and hows, I don't give up after a bad day on the water, and I keep my fly in the water.

Granted, certain waters are more productive than others, but you won't ever know that unless you explore and try. What people don't see in the reports on success is all the skunks, misses, and time spent exploring. There is far more of those things than actual catching, but that is all part of the enjoyment and makes the successful moments much sweeter. So again I write, just do it. Wouldn't Nike be proud. Explore, try different flies and techniques, and have confidence. One good experience will carry you to the next. As for mousing, if you don't enjoy the process of fishing as much as you enjoy the catching, it may not be the technique for you. There's a good chance you won't catch anything with a mouse for the first couple trips, then again, we all get lucky here and there.

Learn to think like a fish. Fish have an inborn knack for weighing pros and cons. It's a cost vs benefit kind of conundrum that determines their survivability.  Not all fish will eat mice, and not all of the fish that will eat mice are willing to do it during the day. It appears to be a learned behavior, somewhat like an acquired flavor for a human is learned (moldy cheeses and dark chocolate aren't for everyone). Fish are constantly weighing the benefits against the costs for eating any given thing. 

Is the cost of chomping (or tasting) that floating animal worth the benefit the trout will get from it?  If a fish thought as humans do, it might ask itself some of the following questions before feeding on a mouse: What are the chances I will get snatched or injured by a predator if I move from my cover? Will that little animal attack back? How far and fast do I have to swim, and do I have the energy to do so? Can I actually get that thing in my mouth? (I doubt fish try to eat otters and beavers, though sometimes their eyes are bigger than their stomachs) Does that thing even look like food, or is it a stick or moss? Should I taste it anyway? Am I even hungry? I think you get the idea. There are a lot of concerns to mull over and fish seem to have a natural ability to analyze various scenarios, and sometimes all this goes on in a matter of seconds, depending on the speed of the current. Their ability to discern seems to improve with age.  Ever notice how the littler fish are easier to catch? Understanding the cost/benefit concept can improve our angling considerably.

Learn what mice look like in the water. I already described it in the "Artimouse" post.

The darkness of night is a game-changer. It lessens a fish's first and probably largest concern; predators. Fish live in a world of eating and being eaten. For us it would be like living in a world with different grades of zombie. Some are more likely to eat you than others (if you don't get what I mean, forgive the nerdness). I know I am far more likely to make a trip to the grocery store when I'm not worried some random stranger is going to run up to me and chow down. I think I like my skin a bit too much for that. With a lessened fear of predators, fish are more accessible because they leave their protective lies (where they remain hidden from most human eyes, and most lures/flies) to "put on a feed-bag" as my dad would say. Fish want their food big and easy, but in the opposite order.

The Habitat. Understand ideal mouse habitat, but don't restrict yourself to those places. If there are mice, voles, or rats, then they can certainly end up in the water.  Mice do not appear to be afraid of water. They are pretty proficient swimmers for their little size.  We do not know all the reasons exactly why mice get into the water. Some say they are in search of food and have poor judgement for what is passable versus impassable waters. Others say that mice accidentally fall in.  I am prone to think that it is a mixed bag of reasons. I'm also of the opinion that mice are sometimes scared into the water by predators, or dropped by them in the struggle for survival when being carried through the air. All the more reason to SLAP that fly down!

A fish that is in ambush mode, wherever they may be, will take something that looks tasty and high in protein, but I also think that the odds of getting a take increase when focusing in areas that mice are more likely to either fall into the river, or be pushed to by the current, after getting in the water.  Looking for this kind of water is less of an issue at night for a couple of reasons: first, mice are nocturnal. This means that they are much more active at night, and thus more likely to fall into or get into the river when the lights are out.  They are like fish and have much less fear of predators in the dark... silly mouses, you should know better. Secondly, because larger fish are more confident and active at night, they leave their protective lies in search of feeding lies.  This is generally slowing pocket water along the banks of the river where larger prey can become available and be observed before a fish actually eats. For more on ambush water and differing lies, refer back to Part 1 "The Basics". Even in the dark of night, it isn't a bad idea to fish close to cover, like log jams, undercut banks, and slower moving water that is next to deep fast moving water.

 

Cover a lot of water, and don't be afraid to cover it again. When fishing mice we are looking for the willing few, not the eager masses. As mentioned earlier, not all fish will eat a mouse, but those who will don't usually wait around. It is quite common for takes on a mouse to occur shortly after the fly hits the water, and the takes are usually explosive.  In most cases it isn't necessary to make more than one or two casts in a given spot.  This means covering a lot of water to find the ones ready to play.  In lakes or lake-like sections of river repetitive casting can be productive because fish are moving around looking for things to ambush, but in most moving waters the fish sits in a certain zone waiting for something to float along and ring the dinner bell.  Often if I get a blowup in a certain spot I will rest the spot and come back to it.  Most fish that blowup on a mouse are unlikely to do so again right after the first burst of bravado. Make a mental note to hit it again on the way out and move on.

Leave the boat where possible, it can be easier to "foot" the bill. Boats are fantastic and give us access to many otherwise inaccessible waters.  They do make mousing difficult though, mostly on longer floats. Mousing requires the slow, methodical finesse of an angler combing the water.  In short, mousing from a boat in most cases causes us to fish the mouse too fast. When using a boat for mousing it requires the rower to have a lot more speed regulation, which results in a much slower float and tired rowing arms. Also, when retrieving the mouse from a boat it is generally difficult to keep your fly right up against the bank.  If you can compensate for these two issues a boat is an excellent help to cover a lot of water, just remember to take it slow.

Resist the urge to set, you gotta feeeeel it. I think this is one of the hardest parts about fishing a mouse, because the takes are so wild.  When the water explodes, the last thing you want to do is keep calmly stripping, but that is the best thing you can do.  It's not even a bad idea to stop stripping or slow down altogether if you don't feel anything, because it gives the fish a moment to find the mouse it was trying to drown.  If there is tension, by all means go all Bill Dance and strip-set on that troutface, but if you don't feel it, chances are you are going to violently fling the mouse right out of the zone, and maybe even spook the fish (flying mice would freak me out too... oh... wait... bats, nevermind).  This one rule has doubled my hookups, and when mousing, increased hookups is a big deal.

Understand you won't always catch fish, but the one you get probably won't be all that bad.  You need to have the right attitude.  Mousing simply to catch fish with a mouse pattern will leave you without disappointment. If you are mousing for a monster you might find a long wait, though admittedly your chances in size increase. If you sign on for the game, just realize that there may be far more fishing than catching.

Rod, line, and leader matter. As most guys who have thrown larger streamers know, you go big, you get wind-resistance. When flinging a hypodermic needle-like bit of fur and foam to and fro through the air, when it is dark and you can't see, it is a good idea to use a rod that will give you the most line control possible.  For this reason, I use an 8wt, fast action fly rod.  Some may say overkill, but there have been times I was grateful for it. Also, my arms aren't too tired from fighting the line and fly while casting.  When mousing, a floating line is the clear choice, for obvious reasons. I fish a short leader of my own making, that is roughly 6' in length. I use roughly 2' of 30lb mono, attached with a blood knot to about the same length of 20lb mono, and then attach that to about the same length of 15lb Berkley Vanish fluorocarbon for my tippet. The reason I go with the shorter leader is it allows me more control over the movement of the fly. When mousing, movement is often the name of the game.

The best retrieve is a slooooooow, natural retrieve. While mice are remarkable swimmers for their size, they are still at the mercy of current.  It would be worthwhile to look up some videos on youtube to get an idea of just how fast they can swim in still water.  No matter how slow the current, unless it is stillwater, a mouse cannot swim against it and make progress. This means that in most cases the retrieve needs to be bringing the fly perpendicular to the current, while still moving slowly downstream, or swimming down with the current. There have been exceptions to this.  In faster water I have found success swinging the fly and when it hits that bottom of the swing and starts pushing water, the take happens, but I have only experienced this in a couple different places, and they may be trying to take it as some waking insect (like a caddis).  This seems to be the preferred approach in Alaska, however, it just doesn't seem to be the most effective approach in the waters I have tried around this corner of Idaho so far. One other thing that I have found effective on occasion is popping the fly, just like a popper.  This seems to work sometimes in places that have a lot of frogs, and is another tool to put in the box.

When fishing the fly downward with the current, I usually try not to pull the mouse downstream faster than the current, but just give enough twitch to the fly to look alive, all the while picking up the line that the current brings to me. For fishing a perpendicular approach you actually move the fly, but as I mentioned before, take it slow.  When I first started fishing mice I thought the best way to give the fly movement was to wiggle the rod tip back and forth, while slowly stripping at a constant rate.  It worked, but I missed a lot of fish because I couldn't feel what was going on at the other end very well.  The wiggling back and forth produces a lot of slack in the line, which can also adversely affect the hookset. Rather, I have come to prefer minute pulsating/repetitive twitches, accompanied by a slow constant line retrieve.  This has allowed me to FEEL when the fish actually connects with the fly, rather than hearing/seeing a splash and setting the hook with a wish and prayer. Also, the more line you have out, the less effective the wiggling rod tip would be, because the line is still straight in the water and only being tugged, just as if you were twitching it.  Sometimes I still wiggle when I'm fishing a hole so close where all that has to be touching the water is my fly, but you have to be careful to not make it so dramatic that it looks unnatural. 

Be sneaky-ish. While fish are a million times more confident at night, they still seek self preservation, and if anything seems out of the ordinary they will bolt.  The biggest thing to avoid is shining your light into the water, especially white light.  Be brave and let your eyes adjust to the soft light mother nature provides at night.  The less you use the light, the better, and when using it, do so away from the water and use the red light if possible. Also, though less of an issue, strange sounds can spook fish. Try not to talk with your buddy very loud and tread lightly.  No ninja status necessary, just don't strut around like an elephant. The more you know the water you are fishing in the light of day, the easier this is.

The weapons (flies) of choice. There are three patterns I would recommend, though I am partial to one. One of the first patterns to gain popularity in the world of mousing is the Morrish Mouse, and it has proven highly effective. The MM really shines when you are looking for a fly to move water.  The foam back allows for unlimited floatation without a drop of floatant, while the stiff-haired body pushes a lot of water.  It is one of the go-to flies used for swinging mice in Alaska. The second fly, and the one I would choose over the Morrish, is the Mr. Hankey. This was another that was developed specifically for Alaska.  It's big advantages are found in the soft-haired body, that allows some inherent movement, and the trailing stinger hook.  It also has some legs tied in, that can add a bit more life to the whole deception. The hook is designed to ride point up, which can ideally make it easier to cast to cover and not get snagged. Lastly, and my preferred pattern, is the Artimouse. This is a simple articulated pattern with a foam head and rabbit stripped body.  It has proven quite effective, in fact, all of the fish seen on this post were taken on the Artimouse.  All three are great flies. I wouldn't bother with the full deer hair patterns because they lack inherent movement and require floatant.  Even with the floatant they sometimes sink.  They are too much hassle in my opinion, though they do look cool and can be effective in catching anglers.

Morrish Mouse

Mr. Hankey

Artimouse

Mousing isn't just a night game. Unless you are talking about a remote river in Alaska, or somewhere in Russia, most people tend to think mousing as a nocturnal foray. Contrary to popular belief, it can be quite productive during the day. The trick is to cover a lot of water, but to do so slooooowly and methodically. Identify places where mice can fall into the river, and places they would we swept into by the current. Because fish are less likely to leave their protective lies in the light of day, you have to ring the dinner bell pretty loud by knocking on the front door.  What I mean is you have to put the mouse right off the bank or log, practically touching it, and lay it down hard when you do.  The splash will get some attention.  Then make that little morsel look as lifelike as possible, and swimming downstream right next to the bank(or log) to make it look like it's searching for a way back out. One big advantage of mousing in the light of day, is you get a good feel for what your fly is doing in the water, how fast to fish it and in what ways to move your rod. Much of what I have learned in mousing has started in the light of day and been honed in the darkness of night. Another daytime advantage is that the takes are in full sight and can be quite memorable.

I know this post was a bit thick with random info.  Hopefully some of it was helpful. Mousing is a blast, and I look forward to doing it more and more.  Good luck if you make it out and be sure to share your spoils pictorially so we can all enjoy with you.

If you haven't been bored to tears already, here are some other articles that I would recommend.

http://www.bestofnzflyfishing.com/articles/mouseeatingtrout.html
http://www.fontinalisrising.com/2014/01/mousing-101-mouse-theory.html
http://www.ginkandgasoline.com/fly-fishing-tips-technique/you-can-mouse-just-about-anywhere/
http://troutster.com/mouse-patterns-and-streamers-for-night-fishing-trout/
http://www.fontinalisrising.com/2013/12/mousing-101-mouse-do-it.html
http://www.fontinalisrising.com/2014/02/mousing-101-mouse-gear.html
http://www.hawkinsflyfishing.com/mousing_for_trout.php
http://www.deneki.com/2014/03/retrieving-the-mouse-fly/


The following is a collection of miscellaneous mousing videos for your viewing pleasure. I pulled out the best I could find over the past couple years. Filming at night is definitely a hard thing to do, so most of what you see in video is from the day.  If you have any great vids to add to the list, share it in the comments.

https://youtu.be/G75Y4FCzJDw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfYqDOlj7AQ

http://vimeo.com/106022738

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09HBi3eID6o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAbOfa43vxshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAbOfa43vxs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGF_HIpul2M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvRO8GwvdJ4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yignZc2JtoE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FoY2S6cFi8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=jYa4JVOmSWo

https://vimeo.com/36578282

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVUn_OnzIJo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwcGoGiiY04

https://vimeo.com/100674575

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsWHUDzBKEw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMw2MI8qxTY

Tips: Night Fishing - Part 1 "The Basics"

It all started as an experiment, much like most people's transition into streamer fishing.  Night fishing is something that fascinates and engenders curiosity in most anglers.  Unknowns abound and things appear even more mysterious when shrouded in the darkness of night.

Something stirred in my mind when I first thought about standing along a river beneath a deep starlit sky, headlamp on and rod in hand.  The idea made a home in the corner of my mind, where it slowly grew in size. I can't even recall what made us first decide to try. The idea had become an elephant and, being in the middle of the room, could no longer be ignored. What was first a sliver of fear, a hint of apprehension, and an immense amount of curiosity transformed into a reverent respect for the magical, mystical, and even sacred nature of the night.  It teaches you humility and awe to be surrounded in something that feels so ancient. Sometimes it feels like I just stepped into a room full of people where I am a stranger.  Everyone is talking and as I move about the conversations stop and the occupants stare in interest.  In this case it is not people, but animals, and this is their room. They own the night and I am simply a guest. Beavers have a remarkable knack for making that idea clear.  I have slowly developed a passionate dislike, maybe even hatred for those flat tailed, buck toothed critters during the night escapades. You want a heart attack? Run up to a beaver on the river in the pitch black night, or better yet just run along the river bank focusing on something completely different than beavers. The sound is like a small asteroid shot from the heavens smashing into the river next to you. I wouldn't recommend this if you have high blood pressure, but I digress.

Despite beavers, the wonder of the world becomes new when you are forced to experience it in a different way.  We rely so heavily upon a couple key senses that we often neglect or forget about the others we posses (I think this includes the spiritual part of our being).  Needless to say, I love night fishing. I find myself wishing it would get darker sooner.  I used to dread the sun creeping down below the horizon because it used to mean the fishing opportunity sank with it. Now I yearn for the cool blanket of night because I know that it will be a feast for the senses, it will improve my angling, and it brings out monstrous lurking trout on the prowl for big meals. One other perk is that it opens up time to fish when days are filled with grown-up business, though the lack of sleep sometimes catches up to you.

Tips: Night Fishing - Part 1 "The Basics"

I am no expert and make no claim to greatness.  The intent is to share some of the key factors of night fishing, personal ideas really.  Hopefully these thoughts can give you a place to start. I wouldn't recommend reading any further if you prefer sleep over most things.  I am breaking this tips section into two posts.  The first is to give some basic gear and my own theories behind fly fishing for trout at night.  The second section will focus on mousing.

What to bring?

Headlamp - Having a good headlamp on the water at night is vital.  I prefer one that has a red light that can be turned on independently of the white lights. When doing most things, aside from hiking into the river or landing a fish, I will use the red light and face away from the water.  The idea is that the red light is not very visible for fish, and most fish at night are spooked by bright white light.  It is also a good idea to take a small LED backup light and extra batteries for the headlamp.  It's no fun hiking in the dark, especially if you are alone.  Been there... heeebie jeeebies.

Jacket - This is up to you, but even in the summers things get a bit chilly when you are standing in a river. I am usually grateful I have one, even if it is just my wading jacket.

Glasses - I have been guilty of going without safety glasses many times, but it is not wise. Flinging flies the size of small chickens + the fact that it is pitch black + your eyes are wide open and can't see something coming at them + the occasional wind = a recipe for disaster. Most Buff wearing buffoons won't be deterred by this tacky fashion statement that enhances safety. Avoiding blindness with this simple step is highly recommended.

Rod, Line, and Tippet - There isn't an end-all be-all setup for stalking trout at night.  In some cases I prefer my fast action 5wt that has good tip flex, in others I use my fast 8wt and sometimes I use my slow 8wt.  In 99% of the situations I have faced at night a floating line is the way to go.  Fish are usually looking up at night, unless you are fishing a place that is lit all the time, such as below a dam. Faster action rods help you push large/wind-resistant flies, especially when there is some wind. Slower action rods make it easier to give motion to certain patterns (think mouse) and can help compensate for premature hooksets. For the tippet, there is no reason to go small. While fish can see much better at night than most people think, they aren't leader shy. With the added risk of tangling in brush or hooking log jams, it is a good idea to have a heavy duty leader and tippet. I make my own leader/tippet for such occasions. I use about 3' of 30lb mono with a blood knot connection to a roughly 3' section of 20lb mono and then attatch that to about 3' of my tippet material (14lb Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon). When fishing mice I cut the overall length of my leader + tippet in half, and I'll explain that in the next post.

Flies - Here you have to consider what is available to the fish, just like most anglers do during the day.  Don't overlook possibilities. Fish are aggressive at night.  Bigger fish (and small fish wanting to be big) are on the prowl for big meal ticket items.  This doesn't mean that smaller patterns won't work, or aren't sometimes the preference, but in general big begets big.  I'll get more into the theories on fish behavior in a bit. Think minnows, leeches, mice, and in some cases stoneflies (terrestrial), hoppers, hex, big parachute adams, or large caddis. I have yet to do much with the dry patterns, but I'll eventually get there. Some good patterns to have on hand in both weighted and unweighted versions: the almighty wooly bugger, peanut envy, sex dungeon, morrish mouse, or mr hankey mouse.  I would carry the streamers mostly in black, but have a couple tied in white and olive.  If you tie your own flies these are pretty easy patterns to whip up.  I have developed a couple streamers, along with a mouse pattern that I have found great success with.  I use these pretty much exclusively: the night rider, magic dragon (black night-version), the artimus (arti-mouse), and short tailed wooly buggers/mohair leeches.  I'll have tying tutorials for the personal patterns up shortly. In most cases I use the unweighted versions, but have run into situations where I was glad to have a weighted version on hand.  If you are tying your own flies, it is a good idea to tie in stinger hooks because trout are notorious for tail-nipping flies at night.  You can also tie really short tails for things like wooly buggers or leeches. If you purchase flies, simply shorten your tails.

Night Rider Streamer

Artimus (Arti-Mouse)

Miscellaneous - Some other things to consider bringing are a camera with a decent flash, snacks, and a buddy. Night fishing alone is quite the experience. Suddenly grown men have thoughts of the boogie man, ravenous bears, mountain lions, chupacabra, or maybe even a wandering zombie in search of a midnight snack. But if solo missions are your thing, then have at it, just watch out for rabid beavers.

The Theories Behind The Madness

Trout are beautiful, but not terribly complex creatures. They are a mystery to us at times, but I have grown to think their hierarchy of needs is pretty simple. Before anything, they seek self preservation. How does that translate into behavior? They spook and dart away when something appears unusual. They spend sunny days in protective lies under trees, rocks, or river banks. They often hold in deep or fast moving water. Secondly, fish seek sustenance but only as long as they feel safe first. I have yet to witness a time where self preservation came in second place. If you want to prove this idea to yourself try placing your fly in front of an actively feeding fish, then wait for it to make a move toward your offering and when the fish is close to eating make a loud noise and see if the fish sticks around for the meal before spooking. It sounds silly but most anglers know about this behavior, though they rarely think about it.

Because fish are scare-dee cats some of the best fishing happens in places where fish can move quickly and easily between protective lies and feeding lies. The zones where fish are both protected and can easily feed are called prime lies. During the day truly prime lies are difficult to access and result in lost flies, so most anglers avoid them, but for those who work to access those zones the payoff is pretty phenomenal. Night fishing changes the game though, and what was only a feeding lie during the day becomes a prime lie due to the darkness. (If the idea of fishing lies is a new concept, follow this link for a quick crash course.)

What are the implications then? For an angler it means that fish are more likely to feed when they first feel safe, and the big fish feel safest in dark or poor light. Fish actively feed at dawn, dusk, and on stormy or overcast days. I think it has a lot to do with a lessened visibility into the water. That is why streamers are so effective at those times, fish feel much less threatened and have come out of their protective lairs to feed. The lessened visibility may also boost the fish's confidence because they know other fish (minnows) are less likely to see them coming. This means they don't have to exert as much energy in the chase. The easier the ambush, the more likely the eat.

All About The Ambush

Night is the perfect venue for fish to eat other fish, mice, birds, little dogs or small children. Temperatures cool, visibility lessens, and the forage has no idea it is about to become the next Thanksgiving dinner.  Fish can see better at night than most people think, even when things are pitch black.  They also rely on scent, sound, and lateral lines.  The lateral lines help fish sense nearby motion (think how a spiderweb alerts the spider of a trapped fly from the vibration). For a fly fisherman, the sight, sound, and vibration are the focus.  I have come to believe that fish rely quite heavily on their sight to feed at night, but even fish need light to see, so how does it work?  It is important to consider what light sources we are dealing with at night.  Is there man-made structures shedding light on the water or is the main source of light coming from the sky, or maybe the moon?  I have never seen underwater lights at night, fortunately. That would freak me out so badly I think I might look for a beaver to come protect me.

For the most part the night lights come from the stars or ambient city lights reflecting on clouds. The dim light shining down on the water creates silhouettes, and profiles whatever happens to be above a wary trout. It is similar to standing in a dark hallway that has a door open with some light coming out.  Imagine someone walking out of the room.  You can't make out any of their features, but you would probably have some idea of who it was, given where you are at (ie: your own home) and your familiarity with that person's profile (not the Facebook kind). Fish do the same thing.  There aren't too many things for them to be looking for, so when they do see something with the right profile and motion they are likely to chase it down.  Understanding the silhouette idea is critical to success, in my own opinion.  Active feeders will usually be looking up.  They seem to hang out just waiting for a promising silhouette to float or swim by.  If it is a minnow or mouse they will often follow it, inspecting it, and wait for the poor morsel to reach the ambushing zone, which is often right next to the bank. When telling someone new about night fishing that is always something I stress, strip it right to the bank.  Not all, but most fish seem to hit within 1-2 feet from the bank, even if it's only 8" of water.  One of the most exciting things about night fishing is the unique takes.  Because fish are coming from below, often the takes can be explosive and loud.  If there is enough light to see the surface of the water you can often witness the splash. 

So, when I go out I look for good ambush water; slower pockets of water where a fish has time to scope out whatever it is chasing, and shallow bank water where a fish can easily chase prey down (this refers mostly to midsized to larger rivers).  Tail-outs of pools, areas where water runs over a gravel shelf and then drops into a deeper slower hole, and along structure such as trees are all good places to explore.  For stillwaters and spring creeks the areas a fish will take could really be anywhere.  Take the time to learn your water, where the fish sit during the day, and where you can hear the water blowing up at night.  I have a friend who swears the middle of the river is the best night fishing location. We rib each other about it all the time, but personally, on moving water, I have found my best luck closer to the banks.  I will often throw out to the faster water and slowly bring it in from those areas, but usually the take is an up-close-and-personal experience.

When stripping at night, I always try to remember that even though a fish can see, I still want to give that fish the best chance possible to track and eat my fly.  This results in two stripping methods when using streamers.  The first is painfully slow strips about a foot long.  I say this because I always have to remind myself to go slower, especially after I just had a violent hit and my adrenaline is pumping.  Painfully slow usually requires an unweighted fly, and I incorporate synthetic materials into my own patterns because they don't soak up water as well, which allows them to ride higher in the water column (working the silhouette).  Some people like to incorporate foam into their night patterns.  Personally, I use a foam head for my mouse pattern, but not the streamers. The second stripping technique that works really well is very short, quick, erratic strips. Make it fast, but don't move too much line. Think of them as twitches, more than strips. This gives your fly that "I've fallen and I can't get up" motion, but still allows the fish to track the fly.  Swinging the fly can also be effective, casting the line straight out in the river or just a little upstream and stripping out some extra line.  The takes on the swing, much like in the daytime, will come once your line has straightened and is moving across the river in a line.  I have also had success just letting the fly swim for a bit once the swing has ended.

One last bit of advice and a couple thoughts that may help in your night fishing endeavors.  It is a good idea to know your terrain.  Learning the water during the day will help you know how to fish it at night, and stay safe.  Use your time on the water during the day to scope out potential ambush water.  Look for areas with lots of minnows or places where mice could easily fall in.  Knowing the location helps eliminate some of the freakiness of exploring at night, and can help you spend more time in productive water.  The other thing I should mention is that I prefer darker nights to lighter nights.  I avoid the full moons most of the time because fish seem to be more active when it is darker.  Who knows, maybe they feel like an adolescent at a school dance where the teachers have the lights on.  One more thing I have noticed, and this may be different in other waters, but not all species of trout have the same nocturnal habits.  If I were to rate them from most active to least active I would say browns, cutthroat, and then rainbows, but this is the case for most of the places I fish and can be different in different waters.

Much much more could be said. Glowing indicators, times of year, and so on, but the enjoyment of this kind of thing comes through personal discovery.   Go explore, experiment, and be persistent, but if you decide to stick to the days I won't hold it against you.  The solitude afforded by night adventures is one of the reasons I keep going back. Here are some links to what other people are saying about night fishing.  Some good thoughts, and if you have anything else to add to what has been said, leave a comment, I am always looking for new ideas, thoughts, and techniques. 

G&G on artificial lighting
FFA's thoughts

OSF's thoughts
FF's thoughts

Some older trip reports

Fishplosions in the night
Night Fishing Does Not Suck (nor does chocolate pudding)
Evening Oddities
Farewell Fall
Bitter Sweet


Edit: A few days after posting this, the following brown happened.