Angler's Entomology Podcast

We will continue with our overview of the mayflies by looking at the minnow like mayflies.  We'll talk about their complicated naming, migration of mayflies, pronunciation as well as the blue winged olives, the grey drake and the leadwinged coachman.  Enjoy.

In this episode we'll talk about strategies for identifying the critters you find while you are out.   While focusing on insects, the strategies are the same no matter what you are looking at.   I mention several websites that are useful in the podcast - which are: www,bugguide.net; www.flyfishingentomology.com,  and www.troutnut.com.  You can find these links and other useful links on the Angler's Entomology Podcast Website  where there is a blog discussing this episode.  Also, here is the link to the Western Maine Fly Fishing Expo that I mentioned.   I hope you enjoy the episode.

Today we will explore the group of mayflies whose nymphs burrow - at least most of them do.  This includes some of the largest most showy (and exciting from a fly fishing perspective) mayflies - such as Hex's and the Green Drake.   As promised in the episode, here is a link to my wife's pattern, the Hexamongous - http://www.flyfishinginnh.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4222 Here is the pattern too, in case the link gets broken: Hook: Daiichi 1270 Size#8 Thread: Brown Tail: Wood Duck Flank Body: Cream Rabbit Dubbing Rib: Light Cream Floss Back: Turkey Tail Fibers Wing: Wood Duck (Tied in as a loop wing) Legs/Throat: small dark under feather from wood duck - often attached to base of wood duck flank feathers (or mottled brown hen as modified in the post).

Finally! We get to the mayflies!  In this overview we'll talk about their life history, interesting trivia and the categories that we will use to organize further discussions about the mayflies.  Enjoy.

Today we will discuss the Fishflies, Alderflies and Dobsonflies - who make up the order Megaloptera.  They may not be the most important group for fishing overall, but at certain times and locations you may very well come across trout eating them.   And they are fascinating - I mean really, what's up with those whacko dobsonfly jaws?

No, not some obscure mayfly species, but the inventor of the Binomial System of Nomenclature - the language we all use to communicate about all this wonderful diversity.  Ever feel confused about all these latin names?  Well, this podcast will clear all that up.  Honest.

I will start releasing these on an about monthly schedule.  So, this month we are talking about order Plecoptera, the stoneflies.  A relatively primitive group of insects, whose metamorphosis, behavior and lifestyle make them important insects for fly fishing.  We'll talk about white nymphs, behavioral drift and even the evolution of insect flight.  

Today we will explore dragonflies. While maybe not the most important insect for fly fishing, they are fascinating.  We'll learn about their development, survival strategies, eyesight and migration.  Enjoy the program.

Welcome to the Angler’s Entomology Podcast.  In our first episode, I’ll give  you a very brief bit of info about who I am and why I’m doing this podcast. I wanted to take what I knew (entomology) and provide enough background, trivia and history to make time on the water more rich.  In other words, I hope through this podcast, that when you see a critter while fishing you will have a sense of what it is and how it fits in to our wonderful, beautiful world.  I also give some background information on what makes an insect an insect, and metamorphosis – that miraculous change where insects morph from one stage into another. Besides being amazing, however, understanding metamorphosis is key to fishing imitations more effectively.