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 specimen resembled several others of around the same size and perhaps the same species, which were pretty common in my February sample from the upper Yakima. Unfortunately, I misplaced the specimen before I could get it under a microscope for a definitive ID.
Baetis7 on Sep 3, 2014September 3rd, 2014, 10:15 am EDT
Can anyone tell me the technical name to the beard on the ventral side below thorax on caddis pupae? I tie a few patterns with this imitated beard but was always curious to know the technical name for this morphological part. Thank you!
Creno on Sep 3, 2014September 3rd, 2014, 4:02 pm EDT
The technical name for the beard on a caddis imatation is probably "beard". But there are others I suspect will have their own names :-) That is a nice looking fly.
I imagine the beard is envisioned by fly tiers to represent the legs of the pupae.
Entoman on Sep 3, 2014September 3rd, 2014, 10:08 pm EDT
"Beard hackle" or simply "beard" is a term in fly tying used to describe the method of hackling a nymph or wet fly where the hackle is mounted under the body only. Another term commonly used for this method is "throat hackle" or "throat", especially when referencing streamers. Used on caddis imitations the intention is to imitate the trailing legs as Creno suggested. Whether it succeeds at this is debatable, especially since a beard hackle without a substantial wing mounted on top will make a fly drift upside down. There is no use of the term in caddis morphology that I'm aware of.
"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman