I had a few trout last night as the trout were porpoising in the surface, Im interested to know if the emergers are struggling to reach the surface (it was quite choppy) or are the trout anticipating them before they reach the surface?

Porpoising is a classic indication of trout feeding on emergers. With this type of feeding pattern I would suggest emergers were in the surface film and on top. With abundance of food, in some cases, the trout will be predictable in their direction of feeding before they surface again. Landing a fly well in front of the fish porpoising can be effective.

BK

Thats what I got by googling too

Fly Fishing, How to Catch More Trout


Cant find any detailed info though, I think if I knew what the emergers were doing it would help me present the fly better

This is defo the time to use your shuttlecock patterns.

Andy

Thats what I had on Andy, CDC buzzer but they wouldent take it, so I added sinkant to the fly and fished it just subsurface, I then had six fish in 40 minutes and lost three until all went quiet, I thought they were taking just under the surface when they were porpoising or have I missed something? I could only see the fishes backs coming up through the surface although it was choppy

The actions of the fish can be deceiving just because you see them right at the top of their turn it doesn't mean the food is right at the surface!!
If you can see ( and yes I know its nigh on impossible) the opening position of their mouth it will tell you where the food item is, and this could be a foot or more under. A good chalk stream angler will tell you more than I can, as its part of there trade.
Mike

__________________
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,9 bean rows will I have there and a hive for the honey bee.

My local fishery was the same all week till yesterday, it was a bit strange that it was the same for the whole week but some great sport since last Sunday.

The fish seemed to be only intrested in a buzzer fished just under the surface or an all black hopper on the top. I fished the hopper all week as I love fishing dries and it was the best week's fishing I have had for a good while.

Did some more searching and this is the best explanation Iv read so far..



Head and tail rise You've witnessed trout that seem to be porpoising in the surface film? The head and tail maneuver is calculated and slow - the trout will rise nose first out of the water, suck in the insect, then head back down to the depths showing its nose, then head, then back, then dorsal fin, and finally its tail. Concentric rings will be left in it's wake as usually this rise will occur in lakes or very slow moving currents. It is thought that the trout are taking small insects that are emerging in the film just barely under the surface layer. The fish are not really coming out of the water like on a slashing rise, but their momentum carries them up through the surface film in an arc that exposes the fishes upper portions (head, back, tail). Typical insects taken could be midge pupae or tiny mayfly adults like Tricos.