Troutnut.com Fly Fishing for Trout Home
User Password
or register.

Troutnut Forum > Fly Fishing Discussion > mayfly nymphs, Page 2

MartinlfJanuary 2nd, 2007, 5:30 pm
Palmyra PA

Posts: 933
Does anyone know how useful this reference is for PA streams?
Louis

Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold!

--Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler
These advertisements will disappear if you register.
Replies:
TaxonJanuary 3rd, 2007, 5:32 pm
Mercer Island, WA

Posts: 506
Louis-

Haven't had the opportunity to fish Pennsylvania streams, but based on the comprehensive nature of the book, my guess is that it would be exceptionally useful.

You can take a look at the subject matter covered on this link.
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
MartinlfJanuary 3rd, 2007, 7:44 pm
Palmyra PA

Posts: 933
Roger, thank you. I will take a look.
Louis

Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold!

--Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler
GONZOJanuary 7th, 2007, 4:14 pm
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 952
Louis,

The Ames book that Roger mentions is a very good one, in my opinion. The taxonomy was up-to-date as of its publication (2000), and it is one of the few angling entomologies where I have found no misidentification of photographed specimens. (Though the fact that the photos represent sections that are variously identified to species, genus, or just family levels somewhat simplified the author's task.)

It includes a number of excellent photographs of caddisfly pupae, which alone make a fairly unique contribution when compared to many earlier texts. And nearly all of the important Eastern trout stream insects are covered. Despite the fact that Ames begins by describing what he feels are significant differences between New England streams and the PA or Catskill streams that featured prominently in many earlier works, virtually all of the species mentioned are also common to PA (and most Eastern or even Midwestern) streams. (Brachycentrus americanus is the only included species I can recall that I haven't encountered in PA.)

The only thing that I find disappointing is the section on the Eastern Drunella species. His description of them as primarily #18-20 flies that hatch at midday in July, bothered me quite a bit at first. I have to assume that the author's knowledge of them is limited to summer fishing on tailwaters like the Farmington, and that the much larger, earlier, and usually more important hatching of what used to be called Drunella cornuta (now one of the D. lata synonyms) is not something he has personally experienced.

Still, that is a fairly minor issue (even for those with a special affection for this hatch, like me), and I recommend the book highly.
MartinlfJanuary 7th, 2007, 5:10 pm
Palmyra PA

Posts: 933
Gonzo, Thanks for the information. I just have to learn to read everything in all areas of the site before making any replies. But this confirms my inclination to buy the book since you and Jason have led me well down the primrose path to bug geekdom. It's next on my list. Now, if you could just settle that Latin pronunciation issue. Roger and I were arm wrestling a bit with that topic, having some fun again. Take a look if you get time.
Louis

Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold!

--Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler
GONZOJanuary 7th, 2007, 6:11 pm
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 952
Sorry Louis, you and Roger are on your own with regard to the "Latin" pronunciation debate. I've already confided my complete inadequacy in this regard. By the way, I recently tried the "Beet-iss" pronunciation on one of my regular fishing partners. The look he gave me in response is usually expressed by raising a middle digit! :)
LittleJJanuary 7th, 2007, 9:39 pm
Hollidaysburg Pa

Posts: 139
gonzo,
I tried on beet-is shortly after reading the latin thread myself. Well long story short the "what the **** is that? " response quickly led me back to bay-tis.
Jeff
GONZOJanuary 7th, 2007, 10:36 pm
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 952
Jeff, I think the most practical rule is to "know your audience." Unless your fly-fishing buddies are entomologists or classics professors, the down-home "Bay-tis" is less likely to draw nasty looks. Unfortunately, my friends come from both sides of the Latin pronunciation tracks, so I'm basically screwed. (Trying to remember which to say to whom is likely to make my brain explode!) :)
TroutnutJanuary 8th, 2007, 2:18 am
Fairbanks, AK

Posts: 1122
I think the most practical rule is to "know your audience."


Good rule!

I'm kind of hesitant to be the first one to inject Latin names into the conversation with some new person on the stream. I cringe at the term "BWO" on principle, so I'm kind of stuck... I usually end up saying "(color) size (x) mayflies."
Jason Neuswanger
The Troutnut
MartinlfJanuary 8th, 2007, 8:20 pm
Palmyra PA

Posts: 933
Jeff. I couldn't get very many rises in the Redux thread, and should quit casting, but in case you didn't see the following, I'm cutting and posting it here. I respect Roger (Taxon) immensely, and only wish I had a tenth of his bug knowledge, but I respectfully disagree with his choice of a pronunciation guide. See below:

Recently surfing Jason's photos in an attempt to identify some nymphs, I stopped at the Family Heptageniidae and realized that the pronunciation of the double i had me flummoxed, so I did a bit of Googling. The result was the following website:

http://www.ai.uga.edu/mc/latinpro.pdf

This site not only tells why the ae in baetis should always be pronounced as the a in plate, but also why we pronounce the ae in Caesar with the sound of e in beet, a seeming inconsistency.

Gonzo, I'm not obsessing. On Hatches II, I swear I'm not.
Louis

Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold!

--Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler
TaxonJanuary 8th, 2007, 8:38 pm
Mercer Island, WA

Posts: 506
Louis-

This be respectful refusal, but don't get discouraged; just cast away.
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
MartinlfJanuary 8th, 2007, 9:13 pm
Palmyra PA

Posts: 933
I am; there have to be some stockies in here somewhere. :)
Louis

Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold!

--Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler
Jlh42581January 9th, 2007, 12:26 pm
Milesburg, Pa

Posts: 24
Its an excellent reference book for pa, thats why I recommended it. It was recommended to me by FlyFishersParadise and received as a gift for valentines day last year.

BTW: I live on the Bald Eagle and my Mother lives on Spring Creek ;)
Jeremy
MartinlfJanuary 9th, 2007, 8:12 pm
Palmyra PA

Posts: 933
Lucky you for such a great fishing location!! Thanks for the recommendation. It appears a number of others on the forum like it also. I'm taking a look soon, and am sure to buy it.
Louis

Is it not an art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly? A trout! that is more sharp-sighted than any hawk . . . and more watchful and timorous than your high-mettled merlin is bold!

--Izaak Walton The Compleat Angler
Most Recent Posts
Re: hackle
In Fly Tying by JAD
Re: Fishing tattoos
In the Photography Board by Swittersb
Re: Long-time reader, never-time poster? Start here!
In General Discussion by Wbranch
Re: new fly rod
In General Discussion by Wbranch
Re: Ephemerella dorothea nymphs
In General Discussion by Wbranch
Re: Caddis
In Fly Tying by Jack_k
Re: Overton's Wonder Wax or sub?
In Fly Tying by Leakywaders
Re: Heptageniidae ID request
In the Identify This! Board by GONZO
irradecant blue damselfly
In Argia Damselfly Nymph by Mwmeci
Re: Dragonflys Grindstone Lake Wisconsin
In the Identify This! Board by Wiflyfisher
Re: Finding Dobsonfly adults
In the Insect Family Corydalidae by Shawnny3
Re: Fascinating periodical cicada specimen
In the Photography Board by Shawnny3
Re: Grindstone Lake Wisconsin mayfly hatch
In the Identify This! Board by Dave_K
Re: Extreme Match the Hatch
In Fly Tying by GONZO
Re: grasshopper colors
In General Discussion by GONZO