As voyeuristic filmmaking goes, Wendell Ozefovich’s glimpse beneath the surface into the bedrooms of trout isn’t quite like a peek beneath the sheets at, say, Brad Pitt’s house.
But it will change many of your notions about the way you fish.
Such as that well-advertised blind spot directly behind a fish that supposedly allows a crafty angler to sneak up for a close cast.
“This notion of a blind spot behind is very specious,” says Ozefovich, who has positioned himself to know. “All they have to do is turn a little bit and they can see everything.”
Ozefovich, who began invading the underwater world of trout with a camera nine years ago, delivered his wisdom Friday and Saturday at The Fly Fishing Show in Denver. His video, “Trout Vision and Refraction,” revealed a magical kingdom most anglers only guess at. Most guess wrong.
“Trout see the total 360 degrees above them,” Ozefovich says, detailing the circular “window” much discussed in serious treatises on the subject. “They see everything around them. They see the bottom and they see a reflection of the bottom on the undersurface of the water.”
A modest fellow of 71, Ozefo- vich makes no pretense of changing the universe as it relates to trout vision. In fact, he begins his presentation with an acknowledgment of the several pioneer works on the subject. But the sheer weight of his prolific underwater research adds volumes to the overall body of knowledge.
Ozefovich, who lives in South River, N.J., grew up an avid angler in eastern Pennsylvania. A career in training and course development in the power production industry gave him an acute understanding of hydrology and how to make it understandable.
When he first poked his camera beneath the surface, he was puzzled by what he saw. Years of experiments helped clear up the mystery. What he immediately learned was water appears more shallow than it really is, and trout are at a greater depth than they appear from above the surface.
Then he went on to tackle that window thing.
“I had this obsession with the trout’s window of vision,” he says of a compulsive interest that now benefits all who attend his seminars or purchase his videos.
“When a fly comes closer to the circular window, the trout knows right then if it’s a Hendrickson and that it has six legs. They can see the tip of the wings.
“At the edge of the window, the fly becomes magnified. When it passes overhead, the size goes back to normal. Then it’s magnified again when leaving the window. That’s when a trout has time to look at it and either turn it down or take it.”
With the aid of scientists, Ozefovich has applied mathematical verity to the various observations of trout vision.
The single disclosure that keeps shining through: Trout see much more than you can imagine, both of objects above and below the surface.
Here are some of Ozefovich’s findings, with his observations in quotes:
* Trout sometimes face down-current for extended periods of time.
* The first thing a trout sees is an imprint of a floating insect that clearly defines its profile and six distinct legs. “This is the most important thing. Don’t use bushy hackle. That’s why comparaduns and parachutes are so successful.” Ozefovich also favors upside-down flies, such as the Waterwisp series.
* The bodies of tricorythodes mayflies always protrude through the surface. “Never grease a trico’s body.”
* Bright objects act like flashbulbs to warn wary trout. This includes the flash from a rod’s finish, shiny reels, watch faces, anything bright or shiny on a vest. The biggest no-nos are light-colored caps or shirts. “Stay low, move slowly and wear olive and gray.”
* Trout see considerably less well looking into the sun. When possible, approach with the sun directly at your back.
* Floating tippets look like plow line against the surface; sinking tippets seem to disappear. Fluorocarbon leaders tend to sink. “I use them.”
Ozefovich’s underwater findings are available in two commercial DVDs. “Discovery” explores the natural world of the trout, and “Feeding Lies” reveals trout feeding behavior. They’re available through Angling Bookstore or his website, www.underwateroz.com.
Charlie Meyers can be reached at 303-954-1609 or cmeyers@denverpost.com.
