The famous nocturnal Hex hatch of the Midwest (and a few other lucky locations) stirs to the surface mythically large brown trout that only touch streamers for the rest of the year.
This is the first of it's family I've seen, collected from a tiny, fishless stream in the Cascades. The three species of this genus all live in the Northwest and are predators that primarily eat stonefly nymphs Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019).
Wbranch on Mar 21, 2008March 21st, 2008, 10:54 pm EDT
I've been told the Little J has a very good Grannom hatch. When I look at pictures on this site I see photos of what I call the "Apple Caddis" which are very common on the West Bracnh and main stem Delaware. The Grannon I remember emerges on the Beaverkiill in huge waves about every half hour and has a mottled, or variegated, wing and a brownish body with a green egg sack. I've been told there is a description of this fly in LaFontaine's book "Cadisflies". Below is a picture of what I would call a Grannom. My question is if I'm going to tie pupa and adults for the Little J which of these two bugs is the predominant caddis there?
Wbranch on Mar 22, 2008March 22nd, 2008, 1:29 am EDT
The Androscoggin River in NH has a huge emergence of the upper fly The locals call it a Grannom but it is most likely the Spotted Sedge you refer too. I'm sure you can understand why I need clarity of the Littte Juniata Caddis since there is such a sinificant difference between the Apple Caddis and this fly. Thanks for your reply.
Martinlf on Mar 23, 2008March 23rd, 2008, 2:54 am EDT
Matt, I'm glad Taxon has such a long memory. I'd almost forgotten the thread he linked to. It should give you most of the information you need. A dark charcoal, black, or dark brown body works for the adult. I've seen patterns by local fishermen who do very well and they all seem to use a slightly different color. Everyone I know of uses a dark wing, some deer hair, some dun CDC, some a combination. Every possible style of caddis adult gets pitched at the fish, and all seem productive. As it is some places the first hatch of the season, the fish are a bit less picky, than they are for something like sulphurs. One thing people do for any difficult fish they run into is tie a bright green egg sack, which I believe also serves as a "hot spot" attractor.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
Martinlf on Mar 24, 2008March 24th, 2008, 7:15 am EDT
Yes, I see. Posting too quickly and because I had just read several posts by Roger, I mixed the two bug experts up. Sorry Jason, credit to you for this one.
Now a question to all the bug experts. Reading Caddis Superhatches by Richards, I believe, I came across the observation that in the afternoon Grannoms swim underwater to lay their eggs. If this is so, I may have been missing some great wet fly action. Does anyone know about this, particularly in reference to the Grannoms we'll see hatching in the Little J, Fishing Creek, Penns Creek and other PA streams in about a month?
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
LittleJ on Mar 25, 2008March 25th, 2008, 4:29 pm EDT
louis, I'm not a bug expert but the females are divers (at least on the streams i frequent..."J", spruce, etc.) and that is the reason that the grannom dries in my box, serve mainly as a strike indicator for my pupa. Try a peacock body wet with a flo. green tag.
jeff