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The Insect Buffet
On a recent trip to Las Vegas, as I was over-indulging in a few too many all you can eat buffets, I found that the Caesar’s buffet had everything you could want from prime rib to crab legs to oysters on the half shell. So many choices, how does one choose?
Fish are not often so lucky. While there are a tremendous amount of food items, they are not available all at once. Water temperature, amount of daylight hours, time of year….all of these things influence what is available to eat. Aquatic insects, by far, make up the main diet of most fresh water fish species, trout being the most noteworthy.
Four Main Insects
To be an effective fisherman, it is helpful to know the four main insect orders and their respective life stages. They are:
1. Midges
2. Mayflies
3. Caddis flies
4. Stoneflies
I’ll talk about each over the next several weeks. This week, I’ll start with Midges, as it is most appropriate for this time of year.
Midges
Midges are a dominant insect in slower moving water. They have two very short wings no longer than their body and they lack a tail like most other insects. Their basic life cycle is egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Tungsten Bead, Black Zebra Midge
Double midge peacock
Midge, CDC, Olive
Griffith's Gnat
During the hatch, the pupa ascends through the water column drifting to the surface. It will raise to the meniscus of the water until the winged insect adult emerges. A pupa or stillborn artificial flies is best. These flies are small, as in 22-30 small! During the egg laying stage, a hackled adult size 20-28 can be the ticket.
Midges can be a variety of colors, though black and olive are the most prevalent.
Size
When trout are sipping midges, they can be extremely selective. This can be some of your most technical fishing of the year. Size matters here. If the trout are sipping size 22 and you have size 18 or 20, it could be an exercise in frustration. Always carry a wide variety of sizes in your box. I recommend 18-28.
Leader
Leader is also critical, no 7.5’ 5X here. No less than 9’, preferably 12’ or 15’ is recommended in a 6X, 7X, or 8X depending on water clarity and size of the insects hatching. I normally shoot right in the middle with a 12’ 7X. It sees to keep me covered for most situations.
I also size down my rod. For this kind of fishing, I would normally cast a 9’4wt or a 10’4wt midflex. You’re not trying to pull the plug out of the bottom of the river here folks! A nice smooth hookset and play the fish…..either that or you’re going to be spending you day tying on flies rather than catching fish!
Ghost Midge, Bead Head, Black
Serendipity, Olive
Best Time of the Year
It’s the winter months now. Midges hatch throughout the year and can be prolific at this time….plus there’s really no other hatches going on. Get out there, find some solicitude and catch a few fish. They eat all year round folks, not just during wet wading season.
As always.....
Tight Lines and Screaming Drags
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