The gaggle of trout huddled together near the far corner of the demonstration tank. They were a haggard bunch, brood s tock placed in the tank to amuse visitor s and add a degree of realism. I t was my turn at the tank, demonstrating stillwater retrieves and tactics. Towards the latter par t of my presentation I switched to a clear intermediate line. Knotted on the end of my leader was my variation of a Popsicle Leech, originated by BC fly-fisher Jason Brautigam. I lobbed the fly down the narrow opening of the large rectangular tank. Letting the fly sink about halfway, I began my demonstration.

As the fly pulsed and undulated past the battered legion one of its larger members broke ranks and began stalking the fly. Interpreting the trout ’s body language, it was obvious what was going to happen next. Halfway through my retrieve an instinctive decision was made and a sullen fish morphed into an aggressive predator, engulfing the fly in one swift, violent motion. Game on! Water everywhere!

My audience left impressed, lessons driven home. Material sales for Popsicle Leeches skyrocketed. What exactly turned an inactive fish into a vicious predator within four to six shot strips? After all, this downtrodden trout and his colleagues had been pestered by other demonstrators, and stared and poked at by a wide array of visitors. In retrospect, it was a classic case of the power of attraction, triggering an instinctive predatory response.

Fly-fishing stillwaters has a heavy focus on tactics and flies aimed at foraging trout — “matching the hatch,” if you will. The reality is that trout, like other game fish, do not always strike due to feeding impulses. Fish attack our flies for a variety of reasons including curiosity, aggression, competition or territoriality. Fly-fishers need to be able to stimulate these nonfeeding responses to be successful. Personally, I consider any presentation or pattern technique targeted at non-feeding or so-called inactive trout as attractor fishing.