Streamside Entomology
The basic principle behind "fly" fishing is our attempt as fly-fishers to imitate insects or other natural foods that have provided the daily sustenance for fish. Generically, we call these imitations "flies". A simple concept, with enormous implications for a lifetime of learning and pleasure.
Fish eat "bugs", these bugs are in and on the water in which fish live. As fly fishers, our job is to try to "fool the fish" by imitating these real, live insects, with impersonations we call "flies". Fish also eat other fish, a wide variety of aquatic creatures (frogs, crayfish, worms, etc.) and we of course have "flies" to represent them.
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, etc...armed with this information you may than begin to better understand the ecosystem you fish most often.
3. Strive to Match the Hatch as best you can it doesn’t have to be an exact replicate although size and color are critical...