Fly fishing: Trout leap out of lake and somersault through the air as they try to catch dragonflies in stunning footage

  • Incredible footage shows trout emerging from a lake trying to catch dragonflies 
  • The video was taken at Marfield Nature Reserve in Masham, north Yorkshire 
  • The photographs was captured by Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust project manager David Higgins, 50, who was joined by videographer Gary Lawson, 49

By HENRY MARTIN FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Stunning footage captures the moment trout jump out of a lake and somersault through the air as they catch dragonflies.

The insects hovered just inches above the surface of the quiet water at the Marfield Nature Reserve in Masham, north Yorkshire, before they were targeted by the hungry fish.

Video footage and photographs capture brown trout leaping from the lake with their mouths wide open, hoping to catch their prey.

The fish can be seen both succeeding and failing to poach the dragonflies - some of which are mating - as they soar through the air.

The photographs was captured by Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust project manager David Higgins, 50, who was joined by videographer Gary Lawson, 49

The photographs was captured by Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust project manager David Higgins, 50, who was joined by videographer Gary Lawson, 49

The photographs was captured by Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust project manager David Higgins, 50, who was joined by videographer Gary Lawson, 49.

Mr Higgins, from Frosterley, County Durham, said overall the 40cm-long trout did not have much luck.

Mr Higgins, who has a PhD in brown trout, said: 'The trout were successful a few times but they seemed to be missing more than they caught.

'When the trout emerged to try to catch them, the dragonflies would quickly ascend and spilt up.

The lake within the reserve has been converted from an old gravel extraction site, but feeder streams run into the lake, meaning many of the fish are wild

The lake within the reserve has been converted from an old gravel extraction site, but feeder streams run into the lake, meaning many of the fish are wild

'In a couple of the shots you can see the dragonflies on either side of the fish having split up as they try to escape being eaten.'

He added: 'These were incredibly hard to photograph as the low angle made it hard to focus, and it was also very hard to know where the trout would leap from.

'There aren't too many shots of wild trout leaping that are in focus or not on the end of a fishing line.

'To catch them hunting naturally felt pretty special.'

The lake within the reserve has been converted from an old gravel extraction site, but feeder streams run into the lake, meaning many of the fish are wild. 

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