Is there a pecking order in the world of trout?Most certainly there is because it is simply the nature of things.The pecking order is established in the feeding habits of trout and normally the most aggressive trout becomes the dominant trout and therefore gains status at the top of the pecking order; becomes the king of the hill, numero uno, the big toe, or the head cheese.
Often time the largest trout gains dominance over a given pool.However this is not always true.Take a stream that is stocked with both Brown trout and Rainbows.In this scenario a smaller Brown can gain dominance over a larger Rainbow because by nature Brown trout are much more aggressive.In a stream, such as Blue River, stocked with both standard Rainbows and Golden Rainbows a smaller standard Rainbow can gain easy dominance over a larger Golden.Golden Rainbows are the least aggressive of the three above-mentioned species.
Whatever species or size of trout that comes to “rule the pool” gains position to the best feeding lane of the pool.Normally this best position if located where a current flows into “quiet” water or backwater.The “quiet” water serves as a sheltering lie for the dominant trout since it is deeper and the current washes tasty morsels for the ruler of the pool to sample when desired.
If a fly-fisher is looking for larger trout remember that all a trout’s time is not concentrated on feeding.Larger or more aggressive trout spend some of their time divided between chasing off offenders and resting.When the pressure of a stream is high, trout will seek more rest during the day hiding in their sheltering lies but pressure is still not enough to keep them from guarding their prime place and chasing other trout away.So, if you cast several times into a quiet-water area with no results then don’t give up; that large trout you seek, may very well be chasing another trout across the stream.
If large trout is what you are after then be sure and fish the quiet water below a current but at the same time don’t ignore the rest of the pool.You may pick up that trophy on his or her way back from a chase.Also, there can be several prime feeding lanes in one pool and this is especially true on the Blue.
