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Terrestrial Season

by Michael Heck

 

We all got a "big one" story when it comes to hoppers or crickets. A story where prospecting likely water leads to a heart stopping strike. Sometimes the story ends with a photo opt where the proud angler displays a large trout with the angler's smile even larger. Most often the end result is a smile, but "the ole' trout broke off" and/or you "pulled the fly away from the charging trout". If terrestrial fishing is new you will eventually have your own story.

 

Terrestrials are land borne insects, for example ants, beetles, grasshoppers and crickets. These insects are found along the streams and somehow make their way into the water. Terrestrials can be blown in, knocked in by rain or just clumsily fall in. Trout are well aware and readily feed upon helplessly drifting terrestrials. Takes can be very explosive or quite selective.

 

Our south-central PA streams have been blessed with outstanding terrestrial activity. That's an understatement since many of the best terrestrial patterns find there roots right here! Prospecting and fishing with terrestrials will work on any of our area streams. Ants and small beetles kick off the terrestrial season. Ants can be found as early as April if the weather is warm enough.

 

Of all terrestrials, trout can be very selective when ants are on the diner plate. Especially when it is the winged ants of spring. Somedays trout can key in on ants and that is all they want. Searching with bigger ants works can sometimes provoke a strike, but anglers mostly fish ants over rising trout. Sizes can vary from a tiny #24 to the larger carpenter ants on a #12. Ants can be black, cinnamon, or the area's most popular, the fire ant in bright orange. Ant bodies can be fir, foam or deer hair, or even lacquered over thread for sinking ants. Some having wings and some without.

 

We all have our favorites and beetles are mine. When trout don't want tiny ants or large crickets, beetles fit right in. Takes are more exciting. Smaller beetle patterns may result in a sip, but the larger #16's and up usually results in a hard gulp. Some favorites are foam beetles, Crowe beetles and the Jassid which are always found in abundance in my box. Beetles can be fished to rising trout or used to blindly fish the stream. If I'm fishing water with a beetle I go with a #16 and up pattern. I feel it's better to throw trout the main coarse rather that an appetizer.

 

I've saved the best for last. First, in June crickets come around. How do you tell when to break them out? Just go outside at night and listen. Next, big hoppers are out by late July. Both are known for and famous for big trout and explosive reactions. There's all kinds of hopper and cricket patterns. Two of the best would be Ed Shenk's Letort hoppers and crickets. I use those two most of the time, but have some others on hand. I have them in sizes from #16 to 12XL. These two patterns are probably used for searching more than any others. Fish them tight to undercuts, overhanging grass, and just about everywhere else.

 

Terrestrial fishing is very exciting. When nothing is hatching terrestrials bring trout to the surface. Any terrestrial works on any stream in the area. I invite you to spend a day fishing terrestrials with me. There are many options, but some notables include, the green inchworms on Clark's creek, stalking large trout on the Falling Springs, or the all day sippers on the Yellow Breeches, and searching with crickets for holdover and native trout on our lesser know streams.

 

All patterns mentioned can be found on my fly list and are available for mail order. For local or traveling anglers, call me at 717-261-0070, or e-mail at trout@mris.com.  I can supply you with flies and guide services for all the area streams and trips to the Juniata.

 

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