Members of the Northern Lights Fly Fishers Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada have worked with other experienced anglers, an aquatic invertebrate taxonomist and a fisheries biologist to develop a new resource that’s freely available to any individual or organization interested in using it for educational purposes. It’s a series of 44 illustrated, easy to read slides on the 12 primary natural food items that trout find to eat in lakes when they arrive from the fish hatcheries. It also includes fly and spin fishing strategies to imitate those food items at the different stages of their life cycle – larva, pupa, emerger, adult etc. Although It’s written for an Alberta audience, especially youth and beginning anglers, the majority of its content is relevant to other regions of Canada and other audiences. Its originators are willing to help other TUC Chapters or other organizations adapt the resource to meet local needs.
The text has hyperlinks to over 130 additional sources of online information – videos and articles on interesting facts about and behaviours of each particular trout food item, its entomology, and relevant angling strategies from well known experts. Each section also includes a tip on best practices for releasing fish. These were provided by KEEP FISH WET, an organization with which TUC is proud to be a Conservation Partner. The overall intent of ‘What Trout Eat’ is to help make your lake fishing more interesting, productive and enjoyable. We hope you’ll share it with others.
Check it out at What Trout Eat – Digital Edition and pass on the link to others who might be interested. Northern Lights Chapter will periodically update links and information within the resource and would greatly appreciate suggestions for additions and improvements to nlft.tu@gmail.com
View chapters of the Digital Edition
To view any of the chapters please click on the link below:
Introduction
Backswimmers and Water Boatmen
Caddisflies
Chironomids
Damselflies and Dragonflies
Leeches
Mayflies
Minnows and Sticklebacks
Scuds and Daphnia