To everything there is a season..... and we certainly have a season for egg patterns. Trout are biologically programmed to eat eggs that are in the river system. Basically they try to eliminate the competition by eating other eggs in the system, thus giving their own eggs the best opportunity to survive. Egg patterns are most effective post spawn. Brown and brook trout spawn in the Fall and rainbow trout spawn in Spring.
 
***EXTREMELY IMPORTANT***
If you are fishing post spawn you must be careful not to step on or walk through any redds (area where trout actively lay their eggs). The eggs will take several months to hatch so you must keep your eyes peeled even after the fish have finished spawning. For example, brown trout will spawn sometime around October and the eggs may not hatch until February or later. If you are not careful you will crush and destroy the eggs before they get a chance to hatch. While it may be tempting to fish over redds to actively spawning fish... it is both extremely unethical and devastating to the trout population. The best thing you can do when you see a redd is to walk away and fish in a different area. If you are not familiar with what a redd looks like, please ask your local fly shop, fellow angler, or send me a message.