Insects of the StreamInsects of the Stream

An overview of the insects An overview of the insects important to the successful fly important to the successful fly

anglerangler

Why know the bugs?Why know the bugs? Insects are the fishes main diet!Insects are the fishes main diet! Certain insects thrive during specific Certain insects thrive during specific

timestimes Insects hatch during specific timesInsects hatch during specific times Insects go through life cyclesInsects go through life cycles Even having a beginners knowledge Even having a beginners knowledge

about insects will greatly increase your about insects will greatly increase your success on the watersuccess on the water

Life Cycle IdeaLife Cycle Idea General idea of the General idea of the

lifecyclelifecycle Very similar among Very similar among

all insects, with all insects, with some differences some differences that can be studied that can be studied later onlater on

What this means…What this means… Is you can fish with Is you can fish with

different techniques different techniques targeting not only targeting not only different types of different types of insects, but their insects, but their different stages of different stages of lifelife

Adults, nymphs, Adults, nymphs, etc…etc…

Major groupsMajor groups MayfliesMayflies CaddisfliesCaddisflies

TerrestrialsTerrestrials OtherOther

StonefliesStoneflies

MidgesMidges

MayfliesMayflies Usually 3 tails on Usually 3 tails on

both adults and both adults and nymphsnymphs

Adults have large Adults have large upright wingsupright wings

Nymphs have gills Nymphs have gills on their abdomenon their abdomen

……more mayfliesmore mayflies

Mayfly imitationMayfly imitation

StonefliesStoneflies Usually 2 tails on Usually 2 tails on

the nymphthe nymph Adults have large Adults have large

wings laying flat wings laying flat against the bodyagainst the body

Nymphs have gills Nymphs have gills on their thorax, on their thorax, sort of in their sort of in their ‘armpits’‘armpits’

……more stonefliesmore stoneflies

Stonefly imitationStonefly imitation

CaddisfliesCaddisflies Adults have large Adults have large

wings laying over wings laying over back in a tent styleback in a tent style

Nymphs live in self Nymphs live in self built cases of built cases of different materials, different materials, some are free some are free living w/o a caseliving w/o a case

……more caddisfliesmore caddisflies

Caddisfly imitationCaddisfly imitation

TerrestrialsTerrestrials Terrestrials represent Terrestrials represent

any insects living on any insects living on land that my fall or land that my fall or fly onto the water fly onto the water where they may be where they may be fed uponfed upon

These include These include beatles, ants, beatles, ants, hoppers, etc…hoppers, etc…

……more terrestrialsmore terrestrials

Terrestrial imitationTerrestrial imitation

MidgesMidges Midges can be Midges can be

mistaken as mistaken as mosquitoesmosquitoes

They are tiny, two They are tiny, two winged insectswinged insects

Larva looks like Larva looks like small wormssmall worms

Craneflies are Craneflies are biggerbigger

……more midgesmore midges

Other insectsOther insects Include hellgrammites and fresh water Include hellgrammites and fresh water

scudsscuds

Other aquatic lifeOther aquatic life Other aquatic life Other aquatic life

exists that fish feed exists that fish feed on. Not limited to on. Not limited to insects… insects…

Worms, leaches, Worms, leaches, snails, slugs, snails, slugs, crayfish, etc…crayfish, etc…

What you can learn more What you can learn more aboutabout

Specifics on speciesSpecifics on species BWOs, Sulfurs, March Browns, DrakesBWOs, Sulfurs, March Browns, Drakes

Hatch ChartsHatch Charts Know what time of year/day to expect themKnow what time of year/day to expect them http://http://

www.lycoming.edu/orgs/flyco/streams.htmlwww.lycoming.edu/orgs/flyco/streams.html Every single insect doesn’t have a specific Every single insect doesn’t have a specific

fly pattern. The gold-ribbed hares ear fly pattern. The gold-ribbed hares ear pattern mimics a wide array of insect pattern mimics a wide array of insect nymphs thriving in the waternymphs thriving in the water