Finding the Feeding Zone: Why Trout Aren’t Always on Top or Bottom During a Hatch

Author: Mike Tenner fly fishing guide for 5 decades 

where in the water column trout are feeding, especially during heavy hatches when surface activity is minimal, is key to unlocking much better catch rates. Let’s break it down:

1. Do trout feed in the mid-current (subsurface) zone?

Yes—trout frequently feed in the mid-column, especially during or just before prolific hatches like caddis or mayflies. This is particularly true when:

Emergers are rising toward the surface

The water is high or turbulent, and trout prefer to suspend rather than fight strong bottom or surface currents

They’re selectively feeding on pupae or emergers just below the film

So even if they’re not taking from the top, they may be gorging just below it.

2. Why aren’t you seeing more surface takes during a caddis hatch?

Caddis hatches often trigger subsurface feeding first:

The pupal ascent is one of the most active feeding phases.

If the trout are full or conditions aren’t ideal (light, flow, pressure), they may ignore adults on the surface.

That means your dry fly may be skipping the main action—the drift of the pupa or emerger.

3. How to detect feeding depth?

Here are reliable methods to diagnose where trout are feeding:

A. The ‘Drop Shot’ Nymph Test

Try a three-fly nymph rig:

A heavy point fly on the bottom (e.g. stonefly)

A mid-column fly like a soft hackle or caddis pupa

A lightweight emerger 12–18” below your indicator or tag-end fly

Watch which fly gets eaten. You’re fishing three levels in one drift.

B. Greased Leader & Swing Soft Hackles

Use soft hackles on a greased leader, drifting and swinging across and down.

Grease up the leader to 1–2 feet above the fly to keep it in the mid-column

Watch for a twitch or hesitation—classic subsurface take

C. Watch the water Look for:

Porpoising trout: They’re often taking emergers just below the surface Flashes under the surface: Mid-column feeding on pupae

No rise forms, but fish are present: Almost always a subsurface bite

4. Tips to match your flies to that zone

Caddis Emergers: Lafontaine Sparkle Pupa, CDC Emergers, or soft hackle caddis

Dead Drift + Lift: Drift your emerger, then raise the rod tip at the end to mimic emergence

Weight Control: Use unweighted flies or very lightly weighted patterns to hover in the middle of the flow

5. Current Conditions—High Water

With higher flows:

Trout will spread out: behind rocks, in soft seams, and along flooded margins

The column they choose is often more energy-efficient, like mid-depth slow lanes where caddis drift through

Summary

Yes, trout absolutely feed in the mid-current—and during caddis hatches, they often key on emergers and pupae just below the surface. Try multi-fly setups covering all levels, watch the water carefully, and don’t neglect soft hackle swings or suspended pupa patterns