Aquatic entomology applied to...

[JOE.T]

For you match the hatch guys.


Flyfishing.For some reason the study of aquatic entomology has always been a stigma with fly-fisherman.Maybe because some think its to much to study,or simply dont want to bother?

The funny thing is fly-fishing is>techiniques and methods that are employed by the angler to fool a fish with imitations that match the naturals that the fish are eating..So than why dont more anglers study entomology?

OK how many of you out there reading this have been in a situation where fish where rising all around you and no matter what you did no hook up at all?Cmon everybody raise there hands,higher, a little higher.Right now anyone reading this that fishes with drys should have there hands raised high!

The study of aquatic entomology is not just about being able to identify the insects that are coming off so that you can simply tie on an imitation and start catching fish.The identification of the insect is just the foundation.

I know theres many of you out there that have been in situations where you ID the insect the fish where eating than tied on a perfect imitation and still had no success at all
All hands should be raised if you fish rivers like the Delaware,Letort,and other "tough" tailwaters and spring creeks.

Back in the mid 90's I took Al Cauccis advanced classes.For me it wasnt so much the school aspect of it ,but to be able to be around Al Caucci and the late Jim Charron for three days.

I knew at the time that my skills and knowledge of fly-fishing where above avg,but I also knew that there was something imPortant still missing.When you see guys like Jim Charron basically walk onto the D at any given time with fish rising and pretty much always hook up with fish,and not just one or two but whack em, than I knew there was a key component still missing.And more than anything I needed and wanted to know.

Lets face it guys there are many of you out there that fish rivers like the D and get your but kicked more often than NOT.

The most important thing I Learned was this.Jim Charron told my brother and I Its more than just a great presenatation and knowing what the fish where eating.This is very important but just the foundation.

He said it was to learn about each individual species and there different behavoir and charecteristics.Learn and understand where in the river they live and hatch.Understand where in the water column they start to emerge as the dun.Are they fast or slow swimmers.Do they uses gases or swim to the surface.When are they most vunerable to the fish.How water temps affect the emergence ETC ETC ETC.

Once you get a very good understanding of each and every species you will now be able to piece the most important part of the puzzle together AND THAT IS>

How and why the fish key in on the different insects in many different ways.

A few examples.

Pseudos-The green devils of the D.Once you understand that these tiny insects like most small aquatic insects are most vunerable to the trout when they get to the surface film than you will start to understand that the fish key in on these small insects not when there duns but when there there still nymphs stuck in or under the film.I have seen guys cast dn patterns to fish until there arms fall off and never even hook one.Why should the fish eat the duns when the nymps are not going anywhere?

Brachycentrus-caddis.If you understand the insect tha success comes easy.The fish dont want much to do with the adults,yet most anglers see the adults tie on when and cast to no avail.Why beacues the pupas emerging nto the adults hesiate indr the fislm and twitch there way through the surface.knowing this you would use a cassis pupa fished in the film and give a cuple of short 2 inch strips as the imitation get into the trouts window.

Epeorus Pleuralis-Qull GORDON-These mayflies shed there shucks when coming of the bottom of the river.Knowing this you would swing wets into the trouts window and have tremedous success,or swing and emerger in the film right in fromt of the rise.


Certain species of caddis hatch off the bottom by silk thread from there body.They do so in the riffs and these insects will be litterally hanging out there in the current.Knowing this about the species,you would than tie on a deep running caddis pupa and let it hang out down stream as the naturals do.Standing in a good set of riffs with about 20 feet of line out in front of you with your rod tip below the surface simply move your rod left to right and than keep it stationery.You will hook you up with many fish using this technique when the fish are keyed on the natural sub surface..

I clould go on and on with examples but I think you get the idea.

If your like me and dry-fly fishing is your thing as well as matching the hatch,than learn as much as you can about the "bugs" and with a good presentation you will have more succes.