"The answer to it all? Perhaps no one know, not even the trout. Perhaps they take our artificial because they look good to them, because they look like food of some kind - in fact they must do that, otherwise they wouldn't take them at all. But do they take them because they look like a natural? I doubt it - in fact I can't believe it - and at the same time believe that they can recognize slight variation in color or size. To my way of figuring we've got to accept one of two theories. Either the trout do not see as well as we think they do, in which case they mistake our artificial, hook and all, for a natural; or else they can see exceedingly well, know at once that our artificial is not an imitation of any real natural, but, not being capable of thinking, take it for a different sort of natural and so rise when the color appeals and the fly is presented well enough to stimulate the action of a real insect when it alights on the water. Now this theory appeals to me and answers for everything. It explains selectiveness to color and size and yet doesn't outrage the senses by making one believe that our artificial looks like a natural. It gives us the freedom to believe that trout can recognize every little detail a fly, even to one different degree in color or size without making apologies for the presence of the hook.
Ray Bergman "Trout" Rick -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.8/37 - Release Date: 7/1/05
