When mayflies blanket the water's surface, as they do during a summer Trico spinner fall, decoding a trout's feeding pattern is imperative. (Dave Whitlock illustration)
April 11, 2025
By Landon Mayer
This article was originally titled “Tippin' & Sippin'” in the December 2008 issue of Fly Fisherman.
One of fly fishing's greatest thrills is witnessing trout gorge on a heavy mayfly spinner fall. Instead of selectively targeting one insect at a time, the trout vacuum the surface of the water with their jaws open, inhaling everything in their path.
I call this feeding behavior tippin' and sippin'. While spinner falls often spark hopes of catching many trout, this is often not the case. Fish actively feeding on individual insects often target your fly and then move to take it.
Tippin' and sippin' trout target only a specific current...
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