evening dry fly video clip & question

[jonnysuperfly]

When you watch this clip http://www.fishfever.com/node/154 you can see the trout rising and the guy does a nice job landing a few. My question is what is the first thing you do when the sun goes down and the fish stop rising?

[Woodbutcher]

Dear jonnysuperfly:
 I'm waitin for an answer on this one, good question. My ans, tie on a wet? Appropriate pattern wet? I like wets, they work.
                                                  Woodbutcher

[Tapper]

Jonny,
One option is to go home and prepare for another day. If you want to stay, what are the chances for catching more fish? To offer some possible techniques, we have to know a few things:

1. What were the trout rising to before? A hatch? A spinner fall? Female mayflies returning to lay eggs? Ants being blow off the trees? A combination of things as opportunity feeders wander around an area? other???
2. Were you catching trout on top with a particular fly before they stopped rising? What was it?
3. Have the stream conditions, other than the falling of darkness, changed?
4. ***Can you anticipate their next phase in feeding based on what you have observed?

Night nymphing to possible fish locations does not sound like a fun option. However, night fishing, although it has its own complications, can result in large fish.

Tapper

[muskydx]

   where I fish, northern lower MI, we go find a slow glassy pool, get a heavy rod(7 or 8 wt) rig up a 3' 20Lb florocarbon leader and skate a huge surface fly such as a Houghton lake special, or a mouse pttern across the surface.  I have even seen this done with a Zoo Cougar.  Streamers below the surface can also be effective, but are not as exciting. 

[corbanzo]

up here, when the fish stop rising, they are done surface feeding.  the bugs are still there, the fish are still there, just lazier.  we usually switch to power bait (i know, i know, this is a fly fishing forum)  something in a light colored streamer, such as a battle creek, or a bead headed minnow works good during these times. 

[whistlepig]

Here's a factor that you might want to take into consideration. Trout have adjustable retinas. They can respond to changing light conditions by repositioning the rods and cones in their retinas selecting clear detail for high light conditions and high contrast for low light. The transition takes about a quarter hour. If a spinner fall follows the hatch in the twilight they will resume surface feeding when they've accomplished the adjustment. Patience may allow you to keep fishing flies without having to resort to more primitive tackle.