Caddis Fly Entomology Pt. 2

I have effectively found information on all of the species of Caddisfly that the hatch chart from Lanesboro, MN describes. Now the question is how to present the information in a logical fashion, with the Mayflies I broke things down first by one of the four nymphal groups and then from earliest to latest in reference to potential emergence dates. Caddisflies are posing more of a challenge in that there are so many species that for my purposes I will be listing them starting with the earliest in emergence dates and ending with the latest. 

 

These first three represent the winter/spring emergence, February-Mid May. These should be fairly easy to distinguish on the water, only the last two have coinciding dates and are different in size and color. 

 

Medium Evening Sedge: (Dolophilodes distinctus) 12-16

• Adult Length up to 12mm
• Wing: Gray-Brown
• Body: Brown
• Legs: Brown
• February emergence

From the family Philopotamidae these are net spinning caddis larva living on the undersides of rocks. They spin a net to filter food from the water. Pupa swim or crawl to the banks or surface to emerge and the females dive underwater to deposit eggs.  Specifically D. Distinctus has a unique trait in that they will produce wingless females in the winter that are noticed running along the snowy banks.  These are going to be found in cleaner cooler well oxygenated water and perhaps less found on a larger warmer stream. Larva look like most free living caddis, like a green/olive worm with a black/brown head with six legs. Color for the larva is going to be harder to determine due to the variety in habitat thus finding them in the wild is important.

 

Summer Flier Sedge: (Limnephilus submonifer) 10-12

• 13-15mm Average Adult Length up to 20mm
• Wing: Ginger-Reddish Brown
• Body: Ginger-Brown
• Legs: Ginger-Brown
• April-May Emergence

This species of caddis fly is from the Limnephilidae super family that encompasses tube-makers of which there are many, over 56 different genus with each genus potentially having several species. L. Submonilifer are going to be found in much slower water sections, LaFontaine says he found these most in ponds in New Hampshire in much slower water, something to keep in mind. This specific specie builds a stick case in which to live, different from a spun net tube or rock tube.

 

Little Sister Sedge: (Cheumatopsyche pasella) 14-16

• Adult length up to 10mm
• Wing: Brown-Dark Brown
• Body: Green to Greenish Brown
• Legs: Light-Dark Brown
• Very Short Emergence Early May

Coming from the Hydropsychidae family of net-spinners this is a free living caddis larva. The information I’ve found indicate that the Cheumatopsyche is closely related to the Hydropsyche the main difference is size. The Little Sister Sedge is smaller than its cousin. These specific larva and subsequently adults will be more likely found further downstream in warmer water with higher sediment and algae content.

 

This information may be flawed or incorrect, I am not an entomologist, however sometimes I wonder why not? I’m sure there are bugs I wouldn’t like. If you think something is incorrect please let me know.

Dogs for Fly Tyers

I’m just throwing this one out there for anyone thinking about getting a dog and happens to tie flies, get a German Shorthair. Liz and I started dating almost two years ago and right from the start she informed me that we (if we were to be) were going to have to live with the puppy she had coming once it was of age. I thought little of it at first and then she arrived, we named her Lily and I had no idea what I was in for. Honestly, I never thought I would like a dog let alone love one so much. She chewed through shoes, dug through the trash and went on the floor just like any other dog but for a hunting dog this ones the way to go. She is very loyal, smart as a whip, loving, fast and good for hunting pheasant.  Which if you tie flies and want to hunt pheasant this is an obvious match. Note: I’m not big on guns but Liz’s father and brothers have been hunting for years and as such there are three German Shorthair’s in the family. Abby, Bailey and Lily comprise the hunting trio. 

        

Abby is Liz’s fathers dog and Bailey is her brother’s. Bailey stays with us frequently and is Lily’s best friend. Unfortunately, Lily broke her leg a few months back and has been out of commission for anything other than leash walks. She shattered her back right leg jumping for a Frisbee and had to have surgery for an orthopedic bone plate to be installed. She is limping and walking now and could be back to normal by next spring if we are lucky. She won’t be playing with me in the snow this winter. 

 

This post was spurred by the fact that the guys took the dogs to the game farm and got quite a few pheasants and even one partridge which I have been looking to get my hands on for some soft hackle feathers. In great style the dogs and guys came back with quite a few which gave me the opportunity to learn how to clean a bird, and to fully skin and cure what is left. We skinned the partridge and took Borax (from the grocery store) and covered the skin side face up and any thing left on the pheasant tails as well. This should make for good fly tying.

            

 

So if your so inclined and need a companion I recommend a German Shorthair, alittle on the hyper side but very friendly, loving, protective and good at finding birds with feathers for your flies.

Jazz and Fly Tying

I worked on a few different patterns today while listening to Nina Simone’s greatest hits. This album was released in 69′ and contains the song “Sinnerman” which at 10:22 its amazing. I really enjoy her voice when she sings in French. I listened to this album atleast six times while tying the following:

 E.B. Caddis: Goofing around with bead ideas.

 B.B. Zebra Midge: Short for Blue Bead.

 The California Collar: Re-Tooled, thanks for the imput.

 

I tied quite a few flies today and these are just a few. Quick ties, good flies (hopefully) and a good day of relaxing tunes on the radio. Makes me think others have to listen to something while tying, so I pose the question:

What do you listen to while fly tying? I have quite a wide range of music so the Nina Simone is new on my list. If you know underground NY hip-hop you would know Aesop Rock, another favorite of mine. Black Keys, Modest Mouse, Pink Floyd, and Zeppelin all top my tying radio list.

Professor Fly Factory

               

I was approached to discuss trout and perhaps some fly fishing with students of Winona Senior Highs Fish and Wildlife class. I began doing some more general research on trout, developed a game plan, and put things in motion. To help present information on Minnesota trout I used the typical boring powerpoint presentation but I used youtube videos of trout spawning, and mayflies hatching to help keep the attention of students. I decided that I needed to have real trout food for students to inspect which would double to help explain why certain flies are tied the way they are, such as a caddis larva and its imitation. I took samples from a spot I had visited a few months ago and brought them in for students to examine while we discussed macro-invertebrates.

I structured the lecture to explain trout in Minnesota and their behavior prior to jumping into anything to do with fly fishing. The class was an hour and twenty minutes and I used every second of my time. I spent forty-five minutes with my presentation on trout and then spent twenty minutes to discuss the absolute basics of fly fishing ie. rod/reel, fly line/leader/tippet, casting, presentation ect… With the last twenty minutes I had the kids gather round while I tied three basic patterns, the basic un-cased caddis larva, a PT nymph, and a BWO Compara Dun. I managed to get all three ties in with my time while explaining why they were tied and how they were fished as I went.

I was very pleased to be invited back to do another lecture next term for the same class. For next time I will be changing some of the information around to maximize the time. I was pleased with the information I gave, I believe it to be accurate but still emphasized places to reference and learn more while giving the kids information to make their own choices on issues such as, is C&R always a good idea? I gave out handouts on how to help a trout recover after release so that if the kids choose to C&R they will know how to release the trout without it dying downstream.

I had an excellent time and once I got going students were paying attention and asking good questions, I was able to answer most of them and point them in the direction of answers if I couldn’t provide one.

The California Collar

Being that I’m a dork and watch the History channel I came across a phrase while watching a Wild West Tech. The California Collar was an alias for a hangman’s noose. I loved the ring of this phrase and wanted to create something that I hope will put the trout in my gallows, figuratively speaking. 

The California Collar:

• Hook: #16 2xLong Caddis Nymph
• Thread: 6/0 Red
• Body: 2 Strands Black, 3 Strands Red SM Ultra Wire
• Overbody: 3 Coats Hard as Nails
• Thorax: Peacock Herl
• Beard: Duck Feather Fibers tied Long
• Head: Tying Thread

What scenario would you fish this under? This is my first poll and feed back is welcome. Thanks

First Trout Caught by the W.F.F.

                                       

Last Christmas my mother, on the advice of my girlfriend and sister got me a fly rod and reel combo. My mother is quite smart and went to Cabela’s not knowing much about trout, the person my mom talked with asked where and what I would be fishing for. She told him where I live and that I wanted to fish for trout he recommended a 7′6″ 4wt. It’s a good rod to start with and I know I beat it up, whacking flies into it as I started casting. Looking back on it I was ridiculous, with little to no remembrance of the things that Jeff (Liz’s Father) taught me the summer before in the short week I tried to fish in Colorado, I stumbled to water. I remember going out several times untangling coiled, curled, ugly line for what seemed like hours before I caught a fish. I had no idea there was so much too it. Quickly I began watching casting video’s as I realized in short order that if I couldn’t get the fly in the water I couldn’t catch a fish.  I worked hard,  standing in the park across from the house when I could get a moment to practice my cast. The first fish was caught in a place I dubbed “Dinosaur Land,” the first time I went there I remember feeling like I stepped back in time some 60 million years to a place where I was not on the top of the food chain. I spent the day like many those first dozen or so, waking very early, line rigged and on the water by dawn. I saw nothing rising, so I was nymphing. I think this is a reason why it took me a while to start catching trout regularly. Nymphing is a bit more complicated than waiting for a convenient whack on the surface. I think it took time to notice a strike especially since I typically ignored strike indicators. I use them occasionally now but I don’t prefer them, I think it can be done without and you have more control over depth and presentation of your fly. I picked a spot I thought there to be a trout and made a decent cast about 15 feet. I remember watching the pink squirrel sink and then right as it went out of sight the trout struck. I reacted instantly so pleased I hadn’t ripped the hook from his mouth. I went so far as to get in the water to net the fish subsequently ruining the chances of catching a fish in that spot again. Thats how it went for a while, savoring every hook up and I’m still glad to be there, not catching so many that its a chore to have a small fish on your line. What’s the deal with those who only fish for big trout? How about finding a difficult to fish stream and pulling six six inch trout out? I find it more fun to fish a challenge, not to say that big fish are not challenging I just don’t pick my spots based on big fish. 

I should note that I caught a few trout in Colorado but I consider this the start. Once I started catching them I became addicted. The fly tying kit my dad got me for christmas now suddenly seemed very important and not so far out of reach. So these to me are the first two that set me on my way. Cheers to the feeling of pulling a trout from the water. I miss it right now.

The Parachute Hopper

The Parachute Hopper: 

•  Hook #10-12 2xLong Dry Fly
• Thread: Brown 6/0
• Body: 1 1/2 in Light Yellow Polypropylene Floating Yarn
• Wings: Mottled Turkey Feather
• Legs: Turkey Feather Fibers Tied
• Para-Post: Yellow Polypropylene Yarn
• Hackle: Grizzly

I’m not very pleased with this fly and so I need to work on it. I had a rough time with the body and head. I wanted to use the floating yarn, a. because it floats, b. last longer than dubbing, c. it was on hand. I had problems after I tied in the legs and wings and then should have either tied in more yarn for another wrap in front of the para-post, or kept the 1st piece longer. I am going to look for some instructions and try try again. I’ll post the progress of course, it will get better.

The Yeller Belly

After rooting around in a few of my favorite spots from last season I found a few has two or more varieties of Baetis(BWO) nymph. One of which stood out to me and as such I’ve tied essentially a Hare’s Ear nymph with a different color body and wing case. I tried to tie these as close as I could to the original size of the nymph and I think I came pretty close, next sample I get I will compare. I decided to dub this fly the Yeller Belly Baetis. So here it is: 

The Yeller Belly:

• Hook: #16-18 2xLong Nymph
• Thread: Yellow 8/0
• Tail: Lemon Woodduck Fibers
• Rib: Silver SM Ultra Wire
• Body: Yellow/Pale Yellow Dubbing Mix
• Wing Case: Pearlecent Krystal Flash
• Thorax: Yellow Dubbing

The Madame X

I look at a large selection of flies with recipies on a variety of websites. In the links at the bottom of this site there are a few of the ones I frequent more often. I do use instruction but for the most part I read them once and try to imitate. I don’t honestly remember how the instructions go for tying this fly but I managed to wrap my head around it and produced a few varieties of a Madame X Hopper. So here goes:

The Madame X Hopper: 

 

• Hook: #10-12 2xLong Dry Fly Hook
• Thread: Brown 6/0
• Tail: Dark Deer Hair
• Body: Yellow, Pale Yellow Dubbing Mix
• Head and Wing: Light Deer Hair
• Legs: Red/Brown Grizzly Rubber Legs

 

I decided to try traditional Parachute Hopper Legs made of turkey wing fibers with the basic Madame X pattern. Since I haven’t seen a pattern like this I named it the One-Winged Soldier.

 

One-Winged Soldier:

• Hook #10-12 2xLong Dry Fly
• Thread: 6/0 Brown
• Tail: Dark Deer Hair
• Body: Yellow/Pale Yellow Dubbing Mix
• Head and Wing: Light Deer Hair
• Legs: Turkey Feather Fibers

 

These are two more flies I will be adding to my late summer season box.

Knowledge is the key…

Knowledge is the key to continued resources with regards to many things but for this purpose trout and the habitat in which they live. As a result I have done a bit of research and am ready to present a lecture on trout to students taking Fish and Wildlife at Winona Senior High School. I will be presenting next Wednesday at 10:30am. It is my goal to give a lecture outlining the following:

Trout In MN

• History and Description of Species
• Habitat and Location in MN
• Reproduction both natural and hatchery raised.
• Diet and food source
• Behavior
• Threats in the form of overfishing and depletion of habitat with a C&R discussion.
• Conservation 

I’m sure I will bore several students to sleep but I have been organizing several videos from youtube combined with images from my experiences and I think I’ll do fine. I’m going to collect macro-invertebrate samples the morning of to give the kids live visual aides. If you can think of something I should include that I haven’t mentioned here please let me know. Knowing the importance of the water I fish, I really want to impress upon these kids the fragility of the water they live around and I’m sure a few live on trout streams.