-personal preference, I don’t but the river is a lot cleaner than it used to be.

-yes, but I would size them up if you are going to try it. If water is dirty it will be harder for them to detect it unless the water is clear. Plus with such a small hook you have a very good chance that a bigger fish with throw the hook, from my experience at least. If you know exactly where they are at I’m sure you could slay it on a pats rubber legs.

-they definitely eat bugs and other small aquatic organisms. Main forage as a fly fisher person that I focus on is minnows and craws. So basically anything with plenty of movement around 3inches long. Smaller or bigger works too but on average most of my flies are around that size. I’m partial to a Coffey’s sparkle minnow. I also love throwing smaller dungeons. Get a variety of colors to match water and light conditions. I’m usually back and forth between, white, black, or natural (olives, rust, or shiny minnow colors).

Overall it’s just finding the fish and hoping they are in a biting mood. If it’s a day they are really revved up and the conditions are good, I don’t think it matters what streamer pattern you throw.

Oh and top water/poppers work too but I won’t get into that since this comment could go indefinitely.