Troutnut.com Fly Fishing for Trout Home
User Password
or register.
Scientific name search:

> > Need to identify.



Post Reply
SayfuAugust 18th, 2011, 12:03 pm
Posts: 560I'm on rivers a lot, and floated down, and set up on a big gravel bar. In the shallows was a bug that could move fast on the surface...long legs, and antennae I believe. It was large, say a size #6 and had good sized, flat, dark down wings over its body like a stonefly. I'd guess a type of cranefly? Is that enough info for one of you to take a shot at identifying it?
TaxonAugust 18th, 2011, 1:36 pm
Site Editor
Royse City, TX

Posts: 1350

Water Strider - an aquatic true bug (hemipteran)
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
AdirmanAugust 18th, 2011, 7:15 pm
Monticello, NY

Posts: 504		Yeah, I see those striders all the time but its been my experience that the trout pretty much ignore 'em. I'm not saying that a pattern imitating 'em wouldn't be productive from time-to-time but I've watched trout rise to this or that and move right by sriders, completely ignoring them!! What's up w/ that?
TaxonAugust 18th, 2011, 8:07 pm
Site Editor
Royse City, TX

Posts: 1350		Adirman-

There are several reasons that I've heard, one that they don't taste good, and another that they are so adept at dodging fish, that the fish learn to simply avoid them.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
AdirmanAugust 18th, 2011, 8:28 pm
Monticello, NY

Posts: 504		huh!! Interesting! Makes sense to me. Do you remember where you got this info? I don't doubt what you say would just like to learn more about this if possible.

thanks,

Adirman
TaxonAugust 19th, 2011, 12:24 am
Site Editor
Royse City, TX

Posts: 1350		Adirman-

The following is a quote from The Gerridae or Water Striders of Oregon and Washington (Hemiptera:Heteroptera) by Gary M. Stonedahl and John D. Lattin, April 1982, and appears on page 3/36 of the linked document.

Water striders are very conspicuous and may occur in large groups, but they are rarely eaten by other aquatic animals such as fish. Scent gland secretions are believed to be responsible for this apparent immunity.


As to the second (possible) reason I listed for their seldom being targeted by fish, that being their skill at avoiding a pursuing fish, I can only tell you that I have only read it once, and that was many years ago, but the story had a sufficient ring of credibility, that I remembered and repeated it here.

It is also said that fish only feed on water striders when the the fish are starving, and water striders are the only available food source.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
SayfuAugust 19th, 2011, 8:31 am
Posts: 560
You got it! Don't think I've ever seen one of those. I had the feeling that fish wouldn't be interested in them. Thanks for the response. From now through Sept. we get Classenia (sp?) the Fall golden stone on the SF of the Snake in our Canyon area. Interesting insect. The males have short wings, and scurry around on the island rocks, and when they get blown in the water they scurry across the top not being able to fly very well. A chernobyl, in a brown underbody fished dead drifted and then at the end of the drift you raise your rod tip, and allow the fly to skate. You can get some violent strikes on browns, or cutthroats. They call them mutants, but the females are large stones that can fly well. It is only the males that are mutant.

Quick Reply

You have to be logged in to post on the forum. It's this easy:
Username:          Email:

Password:    Confirm Password:

I am at least 13 years old and agree to the rules.

Related Discussions

TitleRepliesLast Reply
Re: Water striders
In General Discussion by Namfos		1Nov 19, 2015
by Millcreek
Re: Stonefly identification
In the Identify This! Board by Uppersac		20Jul 22, 2015
by Millcreek
Re: Wow
In Female Baetisca laurentina Mayfly Dun by Taxon		1Jun 26, 2006
by Troutnut
Re: sulphur patterns
In Fly Tying by Anttam		4May 20, 2008
by SlateDrake9
Re: lake run browns
In General Discussion by Msmith14		3Apr 25, 2012
by PaulRoberts
Re: Stumped
In the Identify This! Board by Bfdfisher		3May 27, 2011
by PaulRoberts
Re: Weird Bug Question...
In General Discussion by Oldredbarn		1Apr 20, 2010
by Wiflyfisher
Re: Identity Help
In the Identify This! Board by Kcnal		7Jul 19, 2010
by Jmd123
Re: Unidentified: Not a Trichoptera or Ephemeroptera
In the Insect Order Ephemeroptera by CheddarDan		1Apr 6, 2010
by GONZO
Re: Aluminum cleats?
In Gear Talk by Roguerat		6Sep 17, 2016
by Martinlf