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3. Ginormous hummingbird-like flies

I've been seeing these massive bugs. They may be big stones but I've never seen a stone this big. They're not quite as big as hummingbirds but they seem like it. They seem to stick to the sides and live in woody/grassy areas on the banks. The best description I can give is that they have a large abdomen and it seems like their wings are out to the side and don't really get to the top when they fly. I haven't seen any land so I can't tell you how they fold their wings. They're just really really big. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Thanks!

Dobsonflies. Seeing them around a big river are you -mebbe the Yampa or Colorado? There are LOTS of them there.

We had giant stoneflies - Pteronarcys sp. - hatching out here in June. Never did throw an imitation, though I have a few Stimulators in the dry-fly box. I have only seen a few dobsonflies on trout streams in my life, but they sure are impressive! I think a minimum size 2 hook would be required to imitate them properly.

Jonathon

Hi WestCO-

Sounds to me like a Hummingbird Moth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1oukxflS10

Just a different comment. I've seen pteronarcys, a few, come off several months after the general hatch. We also get a big looking moth on the SF of the Snake, and the question often arises is it the female late Golden Stone(classenia)? and the flying females?, or is it an October Caddis? (dicosmoecus) They don't often get captured, just seen flying overhead, and look bigger than they are because of their large wings in the light. The female mutant stones, or short wings often fly upriver along the banks early in the morning to deposit their eggs. Many misunderstand the fact that it is the males that have the short wings that scurry along the rocky islands that get exposed when the water drops in the Fall, and scurry along the rocks, and fly poorly.

Ah! Yes, possibly a Sphinx (Hummingbird) moth. Very different critters than Dobson's. Pretty rather than horrific.

After looking at pictures I'd say its much closer to a hummingbird moth, even though at first I thought you guys were messing with me. After seeing pictures I'm not convinced that's what it is, but its much more similar than a dobson fly. Maybe its just from lack of paying attention, but why have I never seen these before, and now I see them everytime out?

Enjoy them for it may be awhile before you see them again in such numbers, if ever. Locked away in storage are hundreds of patterns I've tied over the years to imitate bugs I'll probably never see again in fishable numbers. A few are still in my boxes, for sentimental reasons I suppose... My library is full of books filled with information on hatches now obscure with nary a word on the hatches we find so important today. I remember having unbelievable salmonfly fishing in the Rockies in the late seventies that as a young man I hoped to repeat again year after year. Nope... The green drakes on the HF before the crowds found out were unbelievable. The spinner fall on Fall River? It was a great 20 year run... Nature is always surprising and the only constant is change.

Have you fished with these massive Godless killing machines? I'd bet a nice spun deer hair pattern would look pretty cool.

WestCo -

I'm afraid you've left me a little confused with your last post. What are the godless killing machines you are referring to?

Haha, Its a Stephen Colbert reference. That's what he calls bears. I was just adding a little hyperbole to the big bugs. I was just wondering if you knew of anyone actually creating an artificial and fishing them?

Ha! :)LOL

Now that this "out of touch OF" knows what you are talking about, I'd be more afraid they'd fish me!

As to the bug, I have used colorful spun flies that look like a big moth for bass. I've never heard of anybody imitating a hummingbird moth for trout though.