Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

Angler's Entomology Podcast


Welcome to the Angler's Entomology Podcast.  On this podcast and blog, I am documenting my re-entry into the world of entomology.   Join us as my wife and I explore the environment in which trout live and the insects and other creatures that live in and share that space.  This is not just a dry recitation of facts, I hope to bring these creatures alive - show you how they live, what makes them fascinating in their own right, and help you understand how they interact with trout in ways that will help your fishing.  So, please join us.  I hope you enjoy the program...

Links:

Selene's Blog and Page for Classic Streamers; and you can finder her interview on the podcast the Liar's Club. 

NEW QUIZ PAGES

I'm setting up a new set of Quizizz pages to help you learn about different insect groups.  I'll be honest - the best way to learn insects is to look at a lot of insects.  So, give these a whirl and don't get discouraged if you do poorly.   Just try again every so often.   The quizzes will be tiered- so they will get more detailed and complicated as we increase in levels.   The first ones are just about learning the different orders.    

This first quiz is about identifying the four major aquatic insect orders

Quiz #2 is a continuation on Mayfly, Stonefly, Dragon and Damselfly, and Caddisfly Orders. 

This Quiz includes other orders of insects that are important to anglers, but is only the adults.  

 

Pics and Patterns for Episode 45: Worms

Mar 10, 2021

Hi folks, 

I debated about even bothering to have a blog post on this subject, since pretty much everyone knows what a worm looks like and the patterns are pretty mundane.  But then I thought, what the heck - and so here you go.  

I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of san juan worms in their natural habitat - things are little frozen up here right now and there isn't much worm activity going on.  But if you google "tubifex" you'll see what these critters are.  

As for earth worms - get a load of this:

Pile o' worms

Yes, Selene and I use worms for composting kitchen garbage.  Works great.   I was hoping to catch some actually mating, so you could see that, but no luck, we think it is too cold in the house.   

San Juan Worms

Ok, as for San Juan Worms (or any worm imitation, honestly, all you need is a hunk of chenille or vernille lashed onto a hook.  Singe the end to taper it and you are good.   The tan one here is described as "earthworm tan" which sounded good to me... 

If you would like to expand your fly selection you can always go the route of a squirmy worm:

Squirmy Worm

Which is literally just squirmy worm material lashed onto a hook with a tail.  I get my squirmy worm material from kids toys, but you can also get it from a fly shop.   I like the clear one as there are lots of worms that don't have a lot of color.  That said, they tend to be smaller.  Hence the following patterns. 

Bead fly

I think you've all seen versions of this before - I like this fly because it sinks well and - in this case is clear, altho, of course, you can use whatever color you want.   It is also simple - not that worm flies are complex.   

But I saw a cool post by a guy on one of the fly tying facebook pages - a guy named Nick Thomas.   He was using this to tie extended bodies on his mayflies, but it also struck me as a great way to tie a small clear worm imitation.  It is just tippet material, wrapped around a needle, boiled for five minutes and tied onto a hook.    We'll see how well it works. 

clear coil worm