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Author: John Simonson

Family: Brachycentridae caddisfly (Tube-case makers)

Family: Brachycentridae caddisfly (Tube-case makers)

The Brachycentridae (pronounced: bra-kee-sen-tri-dee) caddisfly family includes one of my favorite genera Brachycentrus, referred to by fly fishermen as the American Grannom or Mother’s Day Caddis. In the northern half of Wisconsin this caddisfly hatch occurs shortly after Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) hatch has dwindled. The Brachycentrus caddisfly hatch is amazing to observe and to fish. and definitely gets the trout’s attention. Below are some of the characteristics of the Brachycentridae family. Brachycentrus (The American Grannom / Mother’s Day Caddis) Some…

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Family: Glossosomatidae caddisfly overview

Family: Glossosomatidae caddisfly overview

Glossosomatidae (pronounced: glos-so-so-ma-ti-dee) is a family in the aquatic insect order of Trichoptera (caddisflies). You will usually find the larvae living inside their tiny pebble huts where they scrape plankton and algae off of the rock. Glossosoma nigrior is common in northern Wisconsin’s trout streams. The small, size #18 pupae and adults emerge about the time as Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson mayfly hatch). The trout do feed on both the emerging pupae and egg laying female caddis. As the larvaegrow, they…

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Aquatic Insect Studies for Northern Wisconsin Trout Streams

Aquatic Insect Studies for Northern Wisconsin Trout Streams

Northern Wisconsin has had very few aquatic insect studies conducted in either the lotic or lentic ecosystems within our trout streams. This page is to list past aquatic insect studies I have found that are available to download as PDF files from online reliable sources. I have focused on the studies that pertain to benthos in the aquatic insect orders of Plecoptera (stoneflies), Tricoptera (caddisflies) and Ephemeroptera (mayflies). There are a few studies that pertain to other families of aquatic…

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Pteronarcys dorsata nymph – Giant Stonefly

Pteronarcys dorsata nymph – Giant Stonefly

Pteronarcys (pronounced tear-a-nar-sis) dorsata is the largest stonefly found in the Upper Midwest trout streams. Its common name is the Giant Stonefly and out West it is called the American Salmonfly. The nymphs take 2-4 years to fully develop. So, these large morsels are trout food 24/7, all season long. In the cold-water trout streams of northern Wisconsin, you can find these big nymphs underneath decaying logs and branches in the shallows. Pteronarcys stonefly nymphs feed on detritus and diatoms….

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Hatch Guide for Upper Midwest Streams

Hatch Guide for Upper Midwest Streams

Ann Miller’s book, Hatch Guide for Upper Midwest Streams is an excellent reference guide to the upper Midwest aquatic insects. There is a wealth of useful information in this book without getting too deep into aquatic entomology and insect anatomy. The paperback book measures only 6″ x 4″ x 3/4″. So, it is easy to carry with you and covers all the commonly found aquatic insects in the Upper Midwest trout streams. Ann Miller, the author is an aquatic biologist…

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Mayfly & Stonefly Nymph Instar

Mayfly & Stonefly Nymph Instar

For mayfly nymphs and stonefly nymphs to develop from an egg to a mature nymph they go through several instars. Each instar period ends when the nymph sheds their existing exoskeleton. Then over 2-3 days a new exoskeleton hardens, which marks the beginning of the next instar period. Depending on the mayfly nymph species they go through 11-13 instars as they develop from an egg to a mature nymph. Most mayfly nymphs in our trout streams develop over a 1-year…

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What are the trout eating?

What are the trout eating?

You get into your vehicle all excited to spend a day fly fishing for trout. You may have some idea what is hatching that day, or you may not. Even when you get advice from the local fly shop doesn’t mean you will know where to go exactly on the stream or when the hatch will come off. Armed with a little knowledge can really turn a so-so fishing day into a great fishing day. There are several different ways…

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Bug Blog

Bug Blog

WiFlyFisher’s blog is dedicated to talking about the aquatic insects that are commonly found in northern Wisconsin trout streams. Our northern freestone streams and rivers contain a diverse ecosystem with many different aquatic insect lifeforms living below the surface that trout feed on at various times. Knowing more about the aquatic insects can give fly fishermen the knowledge to help outwit the elusive trout we seek to catch.