Angler's Entomology Podcast
Eric Frohmberg
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I was thinking about doing this episode having lunch outside one day, and bemoaning the fact that I didn't have any pictures of these guys that I could publish on the blog. At that moment a bibio that landed on the table in front of me. Of course I was too discombobulated to get a picture before it flew off - but I saw that as a good sign to do this episode.
But that said, there are plenty of pictures of these guys on the interweb. For example, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&taxon_id=56097&verifiable=any As you can see, there is a fair bit of diversity, but note the black or black and red color, the long abdomen, the wings held flat over the body, and the dangley legs. In terms of patterns, one of the old ones I really like is as follows:
- Hook: Size 12 or 14 wet fly hook
- Body: Ostrich herl (or hair from the ear of a black spaniel)
- Wings: Pale Starling slips (or duck, this is starling, altho I've also seen pigeon)
- Hackle: Black starling, or hen hackle
I would bet a leadwing coachman would also be a great imitation. Next is an imitation from New Zealand of a Blossom Fly -
Again, pretty straightforward:
- Hook: 12-14 dry fly
- Body: Peacock Herl
- Rib: Black Cock
- Hackle: Black Cock
And this pattern from Malcolm Greenhalgh:
- Hook: Dry Fly 12-14
- Body: Black Floss
- Rib: Peacock Herl
- Wing: Dun hackle tips
- Hackle: Black cock
And this one, which I like because it imitates the dangly legs:
- Hook: 12-14 dry fly
- Body: Black dyed pheasant herl (or goose)
- Hackle: Black cock
- Legs: Black dyed pheasant herl tied back.
- Or you can do the Fore and Aft:
- Hook: 12-14 dry
- Hackle: Black cock at hook bend
- Body: Thread
- Hackle: Black cock at eye.
As you can see, these are all fairly straightforward flies.
Hey all - I don't have any pics of an adult Epeorus pleuralis but here are some nymphs. Note the two tails and the flat, triangular body with eyes on the top of their head. Also note the broad gills on the abdomen - they are always moving.
So in terms of patterns, as I mentioned on the blog, there is a really nice pattern from Ed Ostapczuk's Epeorus. Tail: Wood Duck Flank Rib/Gills - brown saddle - trimmed top and bottom Underbody - Lead, wrapped with brown floss. Abdomen: Red Fox and Brown Rabbit dubbing Wing Case: Turkey Thorax: Beaver Dubbing Legs: Brown Partridge
This is my adaptation of a Shenck's Cress Bug - where all it is is, in my case:
Head: Flymen Fishing Company's Evolution Clinger Bead Head Tail: Pheasant tail Body: Beaver dubbing, in a noodle, trimmed to a triangular shape Wing Case: Turkey Tail
Another fly I really like, that also uses these bead heads is a fly called the Evolution Heptagenia Nymph.
I also like Gink and Gasoline's Heptagenia nymph
and lastly is my brilliant Iron gerzonkulator - which, who knows how the heck it will do - but if nothing else it will raise eyebrows when your buddy opens your fly box.
Tail: Pheasant Tail Underbody: Lead zonker strip. Trimmed to a triangular shape Legs: Hen hackle sandwiched between zonker strip Overbody: Bug skin - or thin skin, your choice. Camo'd with marker Eyes: Critical. Large and googly is obviously the best.
So there you go! Oops, and almost forgot - here is me, a few years ago, in front of the cemetery where Theodore Gordon was buried: