In the Blind

Knowing how to read the water and understanding trout behavior will go a long way to ensure success when fishing in the blind, (when you can't see fish rising).

Fishing in the blind most ofter occurs when a stream is moving fast and/or offers limited visibility. Since trout have limited time to inspect an offering before striking, these conditions can prove successful, especially when using a terrestrial to make a large splash on the surface and attract fish. Brook trout are opportunistic feeders and are known to attack just about any fly. Since time is of essence in a fast moving stream or one with poor visibility, Brookies can be a fun quarry providing lots of action.

Even if one does not see fish rising, a terrestrial can summon fish to the surface and create instant action. To improve your chances, make sure to cast to areas where one might reasonably expect to see terrestrials in large numbers. Always search the undercut banks that hold grasshoppers that haphazardly fall into the river. Using several types of hopper imitations works wonders. Sometimes, before actually fishing, I will walk through the tall grass near a stream to see what I kick up. Many times, I will kick up small grasshoppers that might be blown into the river. In my experience, trout seem to like the larger hoppers in lighter colors. Sometimes a parachute Adams works just fine for this purpose. Parachute Adams will also do well in the late evening when blind fishing, as you can still spot the white parachute of the Adams fly in the river and keep a good eye where your fly is at all times. If you are able to see the fly well, so can the trout! 

Don't give up on a piece of water just because there are no rising trout visible. By knowing how to read the water and understanding trout behavior, you can enjoy a very successful l time on the water!