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Saturday July 20, 9:00am - 4:00pm Jon Covich Representing: |
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R.L.Winston Rod Co. makers
of fine fly rods |
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Caddisflies,
Subsurface Before the work of Gary LaFontaine who recently died from Lou Gehrig's disease, the underwater lives of caddisflies and their effects on trout feeding behavior was largely misunderstood. Gary spent a lot of time underwater with scuba gear studying the |
| Larvae | Bead Pupae | Diving Caddis |
| Bead Head Larvae | Eyed Pupae | Sparkle Pupa |
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aquatic habits of these secretive insects. He observed how trout responded to caddis larvae and pupae differently. He also observed diving, egg laying adult female caddis at very close range. Gary took the time to see these insects from the same prospective as trout see them. He did this work while studying for a biology degree. His thesis became the most definitive work on caddisflies ever produced. Gary's work disclosed several facts hither to unknown about caddis flies. Probably the most revolutionary find is that when many species of caddis pupae rise to the surface their abdominal areas are surrounded by an air sack. He watched from underwater as trout keyed on these air bubbles as they fed. The LaFontaine Sparkle Pupa series was developed from this research. Over a ten year period Gary's research was turned into a book that fly fishers could understand. It was called Caddisflies. Caddisflies is required reading for anyone who desires to be a complete trout angler. Here are other facets of caddisfly behavior that trout anglers will find useful: All caddis larvae are subject to periodic behavioral drift cycles. During these periods entire populations are exposed to trout which can key on them exclusively. During these times the larvae pattern listed here have proven very productive. The Glass Bead Larva are the most realistic available for representing net spinners and free living varieties. The Peaking Cased Caddis is a great cased-caddis larva pattern. These flies are most effective while being fished close to the bottom. Split shot may be used and the flies should be presented "dead drift". Caddis' go through metamorphous under water. During a caddis hatch, pupae rise from the substrate to the surface. Some drift along the bottom for many yards before they rise. Nori Caddis Pupa, Bead Head Caddis Pupa or Deep Sparkle Pupa are productive patterns during the earliest stages of the hatch. They are fished close to the bottom very much like caddis larva and other nymphs. As the pupae rise to the surface an air bubble often surrounds them. This shiny bubble containing the helpless insect becomes a target for feeding trout. The pupae are most vulnerable while trapped in the surface film. The Emergent Sparkle Pupa is the most proven pattern type for this stage of the hatch. However, if you try a Glass Bead Caddis Pupa, you will probably be amazed at how productive it is. These flies can be fished down stream, across the current, under light tension. If short strikes occur, try feeding a lightly held shock loop when you feel the pull of a taking fish. Some caddis species lay their eggs by diving through the surface of the water and ovipositing on the substrate. This usually happens right at dark. Large trout will be making very splashy rises with no apparent hatch. An Emergent/Diving Caddis in the right color and size is often the answer. July is maximum caddis time. Check your fly box & get ready! |
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CADDISFLIES Gary LaFontaine GLOBE PEQUOT ( THE LYONS PRESS, FALCON), November 1997 Subject Category: Angler's Entomology & Fish Identification Binding Type: Hardcover Retail Price: $40.00 ISBN: 0-941130-98-3 |
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| Ten years' study produced this intense, in-depth look at one of the trout's major foods. LaFontaine introduces tested patterns and details strategies on how to best fish larvae, pupae and adult flies. Color & B/w photos; 8x11 inches, 336 pgs. | |||
| Item | Title | Price | To Top |
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0-941130-98-3 |
Book, CADDISFLIES, by Gary LaFontaine | $40.00 | |
| 0-941130-98-3B | Book, CADDISFLIES, by Gary LaFontaine with any purchase over $100. That is 20% OFF plus FREE SHIPPING. | $32.00 | |
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(continued
from 06/16/02
The Fly Fishing Shop Insider) How Bass Locate Prey Bass are superbly designed to attack and kill at close range. Their hydrodynamic design and fin arrangement allows them to maneuver silently. They usually stalk their prey and ambush from short range. When a bass makes the final rush it rarely misses unless it changes its mind at the last instant. Refusals can be as dramatic as takes. Most experts agree that sight plays the major role in bass food acquisition. Bass have remarkably well adapted eyes for the environments they inhabit. They see shapes, colors, movement and distance very well at mid and close range. |
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arrangement in the skull allows for binocular and wide peripheral
vision. This enables bass to locate and study their prey and
assess how to best attack it. Sometimes a bass will study prey
and stalk it for a matter of minutes before attacking.
However this stalking process can start long before prey could
possibly be in visual contact. Often you will see a bass start
to edge toward your fly while it is still obscured from direct view by
weeds or other obstructions.
This is because bass also have a very acute sense of hearing. Sound travels more efficiently through water than through air. Bass use this efficient sound transfer to locate prey in weeds, turbid waters or low light conditions. They hear normal frequency sounds with an inner ear very much like our own. They detect low frequency sounds with special nerves located along the lateral line. It is believed that bass may very well be able to judge the size and kind of prey as well as relative distance through sound. This is why flies and lures that pop, whir, rattle or gurgle are so effective. The sound gets the bass' attention. Bass are always listening for prey that is in distress and vulnerable. When the bass is alerted by sound it will stalk by sound until visual contact is made. Fine tuning the attack is done after the prey has been sighted. (to be continued in 06/30/02 FFS Insider) |
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What Do Big Bass
Eat? |
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The Weedless
Soft Body
FrogFish Popper is hollow and flexible. The surface has a shiny scaled effect. The 3-D eyes could belong to a frog, bluegill, baby bass, stickle back or Tui Chub. If you think this bug is just for bass, don't kid yourself, trout like them too. |
| Item | Description | Size | Price | To Top |
| 00566-04 | Soft Body FrogFish Bass Fly, Olive and White | 4 | 3 for $8.95 |
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PMD's Are
Hatching On Many Streams Throughout The West |
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Pale
Morning Dun (PMD) Hatch Equalizer Kit |
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Description |
Size |
Price |
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PMDHATCH |
Pale Morning Dun Hatch Equalizer Kit. 12 flies. |
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$21 |
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Possible World
Record Bonefish By Hank Hosfield Pictures of big bonefish are a dime a dozen, but what I've got here truly shocked my guide, Jerry Cartwright, who claims it had to be a record: world's smallest bonefish on a fly. Jerry has lived his whole life on Long Island, Bahamas, and he's never seen a bonefish this small, let alone seen one take a fly. How'd I get it? I was boat fishing on an inner flat in |
| some deeper water, dangling my fly in the water, just getting set to cast to a school of bones. I started to pick up my line to cast and felt resistance, almost like I had hooked some grass--then it ran. Well, more like wiggled. The short time it took to yank it in was more than enough to queer my shot at those other fish. But I could tell from the reaction from Jerry upon landing this dude that this fish was much more special. It's a beauty, huh? | |
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16-Hour On the
Water Steelhead Fly fishing School |
| Item | Description | Price | To Top |
| ST-CLASS-5 | 8-hour steelhead class with Mark Bachmann, Brian Silvey and Ron Lauzon, July 19, 2002. (1) opening left. | $195 | |
| ST-CLASS-6 | 8-hour steelhead class with Mark Bachmann, Brian Silvey and Ron Lauzon, August 16, 2002. | $195 |
| If you would like to read past "Insiders", click Archives |
| Your commentary is always welcome. Drop us a line: mailto:flyfish@teleport.com |
The Fly
Fishing Shop, Welches, OR
1(800) 266-3971
Fish long & prosper,
Mark
Bachmann & Patty Barnes
