The last couple of nights for me on the Don have been very challenging with only encountering what appear to be "smutting" trout. Coinciding with dropping water levels the fish are just not interested in anything else it seems !
The fish are rising, sometimes steadily, from about 8.30/8.45 pm, small kissing rises, sometimes multiple (in quick sucession), often moving upstream, with the odd "gop" and air bubble. Some are "sharkfining", all intially suggesting to me that they were taking emergers or still born duns just below the surface. However, I have tried DHE's (interested but just drown the fly), CDC and Elks, Black Gnat (size 20), Oppo (small klink), even spent spinner patterns and various emergers all to no avail. There are no spent spinners on the water.
I have definitely covered fish, and not lined or spooked them because they keep rising, and the odd fish shows interest but won't take. I understand that because they are close to the surface their 'viewing window' is narrow but I am confident I have been getting my flies right across their noses. I now reckon these fish are "smutting" midges or small diptera, maybe caenis, so what do you guys do in that situation ? ! It is a lower/mid beat of the Don, quite slow and deep (sediment bottom for the large part) with the occasional slightly faster gravely, ranunculus sections where baetis emerge. The "smutters" are in the slower sections.
Cheers,
Lindsay
