Fishing Thoughts

Mayflies emerging in a clear trout stream, showing surface adults and subsurface nymph activity during a hatch. Introduction: Why Mayflies Matter to Trout Mayflies are one of the most important food sources for trout in rivers, streams, and tailwaters. While anglers often focus on visible surface hatches, most of a mayfly’s life is spent underwater as a nymph. Understanding how mayflies behave below the surface — and how trout respond to that behavior — is the key to consiste

Plastic softness, salt content, and density determine how a bait falls, glides, or drops—often making more difference than added weight. Most anglers notice how a soft plastic moves horizontally . Fewer pay attention to how it falls . In cold water especially, fall rate often determines whether a fish commits—or ignores the bait entirely. And fall rate is controlled less by weight than by plastic softness, salt content, and density . Two baits with the same jig head can si

Stoneflies are one of the most important subsurface food sources for trout in rivers, tailwaters, and cold streams. When trout are feeding near the bottom or holding tight to structure, a properly rigged soft plastic stonefly can outperform bulkier worms or reaction baits. The key is not just imitation — it’s presentation, depth control, and drift. This guide explains how to rig and fish a soft plastic stonefly for trout using jig heads and light wire hooks for natural, contr

My favorite ways to fish a small (trout) worm