"Happy" Fish

We often get funny looks when we speak of "happy" fish, so I thought I'd define it. We've all seen them. Fish that are either eating bugs on top very consistently (a super happy fish going left/right/left/right with only a half second in between is usually a pretty awesome thing).

Fish don't have to be eating on top to be "happy." We spend a ton of time doing sited fish stuff where the fish is 'nymphing' hard. The fish might be up in the column, but typically these fish are obvious by their hard movements to eat bugs.

There are also 'moody' fish, typically Brown Trout. A lot of time Brown's will not push when you spook them, but sit on the bottom and stop eating. It can be the most annoying thing in the world when you find a fish, and go through your entire box without the slightest interest. Usually you've spooked them without knowing it, and the fish aint gonna eat!

Either way, if you get a happy fish and you put the right bug in front of it's face, you'll be rewarded.


Here's some happy fish we've seen lately.