After mayfly eggs are laid, they hatch within usually 2 or 3 weeks and start the next cycle as nymphs. There are four basic types of mayfly nymphs - the burrowers, swimmers, clingers and crawlers. Each type has their own particular habitat and behavior. We have discussed the habitat and the behavior of the swimmer and crawler nymphs in the previous blogs. Now we will discuss the mayfly burrower nymphs.
After mayfly eggs are laid, they hatch within usually 2 or 3 weeks and start the next cycle as nymphs. There are four basic types of mayfly nymphs - the burrowers, swimmers, clingers and crawlers. Each type has their own particular habitat and behavior. We have discussed the habitat and the behavior of the swimmer nymphs in a previous blog. Now we will discuss the mayfly crawler nymphs.
After mayfly eggs are laid, they hatch within usually 2 or 3 weeks and start the next cycle as nymphs. The nymphs are covered by hard exoskeletons and are the underwater stages of the mayfly’s life cycle. They can live in the nymph stage for as long as 3 months and even up to a year in some species, during which time they are growing. As they get larger, they grow a new exoskeleton underneath the old and shed the old smaller exoskeleton which has become too small to house them. This process is called a molt or instar.
At times during late summer and early fall, big fish will anchor themselves to the river bottom in fast moving water, seeking the coolest water. This is when heavy nymph fishing will outproduce all other tactics. Here are a few points overlooked by most anglers that will elevate your nymph fishing skills.
# 1 Always use the smallest possible sized indicators the situation allows. Big indicators wont detect subtle strikes and often spook fish when plopped in the water.
In the fall of the year, the heavy rains will produce some rough waters and you may want to consider switching to a wet fly. What is a wet fly? A wet fly is an imitation of a nymph or larva that has become dislodged from the bottom and is drifting downstream. The trout will be aggressively feeding on them as they drift downstream.
Terrestrial insects, including ants, beetles, houseflies, bees, spiders, crickets, grasshoppers, worms, moths and more do not intentionally spend any of their life cycles in the water. The only time that they get in the water is when they land in the water accidentally, helped by the wind, rain or snow. Contrary to popular belief, they do not constitute a large part of the trout’s diet; in fact, it is believed that they may be only 1% of their diet.
Midges are an important source of food for trout and yet, trout anglers are shy about using them. We have explained the appearance of midges as well as examining life cycle of midges in our blog "Midges are a Staple in the Diet of a Trout".
Chironomid is the scientific name for midges which are small insects, averaging from 1 to 10mm long and resembling mosquitos, but unlike mosquitos they do not bite. They live in fertile streams and ponds and are extremely prolific, which is why they are often seen as clouds of insects. They are an important source of food for trout all year long. In the late summer and the winters, they take up the slack when other aquatic hatches have slowed.
It takes a special eye trained to observe the trout in the streams. Sometimes the water is stained; sometimes it is the rapids, sometimes down deep but always a challenge. For many anglers seeing trout even in the clearest of water is a hard thing to do. By the time they see the trout; the fish see you and they are headed for “Dixie” as I am prone to say. Your opportunity to cast to an unknowing relaxed trout is gone. So what do we do to educate and calibrate our eyes?
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