Advice

"Unless one can enjoy himself fishing with the fly, even when his efforts are unrewarded, he loses much real pleasure. More than half the intense enjoyment of fly fishing is derived from the beautiful surroundings, the satisfaction felt from being in the open air, the new lease of life secured thereby, and the many, many pleasant recollections of all one has seen, heard and done."

Charles Orvis

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Fly fishing for trout requires a knowledge of entomology - the study of insects that form a large part of the fishes diet. This introduction covers the four main types of insects of interest to trout and anglers. I have sketched them at various life stages, nymphs, larvae, creeper, pupae, buzzer, spinner, caddis fly, stone fly, mayfly, and midge. There are several excellent books available that provide detailed information.

Ephemeroptera - Mayflies
Tricoptera - Caddis flies
Diptera - Gnats, midges etc.
Plecoptera - Stoneflies

Adult mayflies lay eggs in the water, attached by threads or adhesive and some species crawl underwater to do this. Nymphs feed on plant material and have many growth stages (instars). Two basic forms exist - still or slow water types and fast water types. Duns dry on the water surface. Duns then leave to shelter and moult into adults called spinners.

Most do it within 24 hr.. They then swarm to breed and females lay their eggs by crawling into water (e.g. Baetis), flying upstream and dropping eggs onto the water or dipping their abdomen to loose them (e.g. Ephemerella) or they land on the water to lay eggs. All species die after mating and laying.

Caddis flies are very important to river anglers in all their life stages. Eggs are laid either on the water, by the insect crawling underwater and attaching them or they are laid on waterside vegetation. Most of the larvae make protective cases from silk and other materials. They feed on plant and animal matter and pupate for a time before emerging. The pupa swim to the surface to hatch. Adults resemble moths in flight and usually hatch in the evenings.

Diptera covers thousands of two winged flies. Reed Smuts, Gnats and Midges are most important to the fly fisherman. Eggs are laid in either on or by crawling into the water. Larvae crawl like worms - some of them are called (bloodworms) they then pupate and rise to the surface where the trout feast on the hatching pupa or "buzzers". Emerging adults and spent or egg laying adults are also eaten by the fish.

Stoneflies lay their eggs in the water and the nymphs crawl around eating plant material and insects. The creeper take three years to develop and it then crawls ashore to become an adult. Adult females lay eggs back into the water.