Salmo -- I'm sure you have fished over really selective trout -- it's hard to find dumb trout in the Northwest, unless you hike or row a long way from a road.

It could be that you're hitting the rivers and lakes at times when the trout are locking onto "normal" hatches, such as caddis and mayflies and stoneflies. I rarely fish midges on Oregon's Deschutes River during the summer, as the fish seem to be happy with caddis and mayflies.

The winter is a different story, as the fish are eating tiny blue-winged olives and midges. Maybe it's just a timing deal for you.