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CharlieSawdMay 22nd, 2009, 4:33 pm
St. Michael, Minnesota

Posts: 26		I am curious if any of you have come across any literature, or know personally why dry conditions (low precipitation and stream level) affect mayfly and caddis hatches. At first, the answer may seem intuitive, but upon further scrutiny, I am finding that is not the case.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,

Charlie Sawdey
www.driftlessflybox.com
WillmilneMay 22nd, 2009, 4:57 pm
Manitoba Canada

Posts: 19		Hi

This paper dicusses diversity and densities in an unstable stream environment

http://www.famu.org/mayfly/pubs/pub_f/pubflannaganj1991p333.pdf[

and this one has some interesting data regarding flow variations and emergence densities

http://www.famu.org/mayfly/pubs/pub_f/pubflannagaj2001p97.pdf

hope that helps

Will

KonchuMay 22nd, 2009, 6:38 pm
Site Editor
Indiana

Posts: 505		That IS a deceptively difficult question to answer. Here's a few thoughts and observations. No more than that.

Several local insect species develop much more quickly when the water levels drop and flow slows. One part of this is that the stream temperature increases and so does the metabolism of the bugs.

In a nearby stream that I visited about an hour ago, for example, the insects are developing pretty quickly now. We had near flood conditions about a week ago, but the stream has dried to a mere trickle this weekend. The populations of bugs are really concentrated, and I'm guessing they'll pop out any day, if they haven't already started.

I saw some fish rising and kissing the water's surface. I heard even more of this from nearby pools.

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