The Great Lakes Region,  lies one third of the way between the Atlantic and Pacific costs, in the temperate region between 50 degrees & 40 degrees North Latitude. Boundaries can be defined, using the political borders of those states having parts of the Great lakes within their boundaries; the region includes New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio,  The focal point of the region’s uniqueness lies in the five Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario) and the St. Lawrence River. 

The lakes are in large part responsible for many of the current conditions. They have influenced geological processes, the weather and climate. As well as the establishment of plant and animal communities.  The aquatic insects comprise the bulk of benthic macro- invertebrate communities in healthy, freshwater streams and rivers. These insects are mostly in their immature form and live their adult life on land, sometimes for only a few hours. Identifying aquatic insects, is important in becoming more proficient at catching trout on our favorite streams and rivers. I think you'll find identifying aquatics is not an overwhelming task but in fact fairly simple, if we follow these three guidelines:

1. No two ecosystems are precisely alike, it's important to sample the aquatic insects in the body of water you fish.

2. Learn to identify these insects, at least the family (Gene) to which they belong, an exact identification is not critical because generally these insects (Gene or Family) are very similar in metamorphosis and habit. Take notes as to the conditions under which these insects were observed, i.e. insects stage of development, water temp, current weather conditions, location, time of year, ect...armed with this information you may than begin to better understand the ecosystem you fish most often. 

3. Strive too Match the Hatch as best you can it doesn’t have to be an exact replicate although size and color are critical. 

  Caddisflies

 General overview:

    A caddis fly is any moth-like insect of the order Trichoptera. Most caddis flies measure 5-25 mm (0.2-1 in) in length. They are dull-colored, and their larvae are aquatic. Most larvae construct portable cases of twigs or pebbles that are fastened together with silk. Stream-living larvae construct tiny silk nets and feed on the materials caught in them. When a larva is fully grown, it fastens its case to an object in the water and pupates in the case.   

LARVA

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PUPAE

Two long antennae. Wing pads present, well developed and slope under abdomen in late stages Hook bearing plates on top of abdomen in case- making form. Contained in silk cocoon inside of case or simply covering free living forms swim or crawl to surface depending on form

Mayflies

General Overview:

Mayflies are primitive winged insects of the order Ephemeroptera, usually found near streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. Among the most ancient insect groups, mayflies have left fossils up to 300 million years old. Typical adult mayflies are up to 2 cm (0.8 in) long, with bulging eyes and two or three long, slender tail filaments. Immature mayflies (nymphs) live underwater, where they breathe through abdominal gills. Some mayfly nymphs prey upon smaller aquatic animals, and others eat plant fragments. Mayfly nymphs are an important food for fish and are excellent fish bait.

NYMPHS

* Three cerci, some with middle tail reduced or absent
* One claw on end of each leg
* Two antennae
* Gills can be plate-like, filamentous, feathery, or tuning-forked shaped; but only present on abdomen.
* Behavior Variable depending on functional grouping; Swimmers- fast, active swimmers; Crawlers-crawl on the bottom, slow swimmers; Clingers- cling to bottom, poor swimmers; Burrowers- burrow into bottom, moderate swimmers. 

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 MAYFLIES ADULTS (subimago & imago)

* Two or three long tails
* One claw on end of each leg
* Two short antennae
* Two pairs of wings with many veins, both pairs held vertically, front pair large and triangular, hind pair reduced or absent.
* Wings of subimago generally cloudy in appearance while imago wings tend to be more clear
* Moderate straight flight

After up to 3 years in a nymph stage, the insects emerge from the water, usually at night, and molt (shed their skin) into a winged form that usually molts again into an adult mayfly. Mayflies are the only insects to molt after having wings. Adult mayflies cannot eat, and they live only a few hours or days, during which time they mate and females lay eggs. Huge swarms of mayflies may be attracted to lights and thus become a nuisance, especially near lakeside resorts. Such swarms may appear after an influx of phosphates or other nutrients that increases the volume of the plant materials on which nymphs feed.

"Scuds" Freshwater Shrimp

• General Characteristics:

The great majority of species are from 5-20 mm. long. The body is laterally compressed and consists of a Cephalothorax (first thoratic segment fused with the head), seven free thoratic segments, a six-segmented abdomen, and a small, terminal telson. Eyes are usually well developed in species living above ground, but subterranean species show varying degrees of degeneration or complete absence of eyes. Both pairs of antennae range from short to long. The mouth parts are relatively small, compactly arranged, and hidden by the basil segments of the appendages of the first thoratic segment. The seven pairs of thoratic legs all have seven segments corresponding to the segments of the crayfish legs (pictured below). The first two pairs of legs, known as gnathopods, are adapted for grasping, but the third to seventh legs are relatively unspecialized pereiopods. The first two periopods are usually flexed forward, and the last three backward. 

• The Amphipoda are chiefly marine, only about 50 American species being confirmed to fresh waters. They occur in a wide variety of unpolluted lakes, ponds, streams, brooks, springs, and subterranean waters.

• Collection, Preparation:

Where specimens are abundant they maybe easily taken by a dipnet and by rinsing out masses of aquatic vegetation and bottom debris. Stony bottoms require hand picking with forceps or a small aquarium net. Seventy percent alcohol is a satisfactory killing agent and preservative. Live specimens may be maintained in an aquarium especially if they are well supplied with oxygen and aquatic vegetation.