So, were you by a lake? If so, Byron might be right about the first one - Callibaetis. Mottled wing, minute hind wings, two tails, size 14-16.
So, were you by a lake? If so, Byron might be right about the first one - Callibaetis. Mottled wing, minute hind wings, two tails, size 14-16.
There are so many variations of Mayflies, or all bugs for that matter. For instance, in Montana the sizes of various bugs differ greatly river by river even if the rivers are only a short distance apart. That is one reason why local fly shops are so important. They will tell you which flies to use and what size to use. Sure they hope to sell some flies but many of the shops are just as willing to let you know what to use even if you don't buy right then. So, when we look at Mayflies or any bugs from south of the equator, there will most likely be some huge variations from our bugs. Keeps us guessing.
Larry ---sagefisher---
I take all the guessing out of the game and save a lot of money by just putting a drop of superglue on a #16 and holding the live bug there until it sets. Works anywhere. I do pinch the barb in C&R sections.
As sagefisher says, there are so many bug variations there are literally hundreds of books alone on the thousands of water flies out there. Identifying them is a game for the entomologist like Hodgkins on Bones to even begin to narrow down the fields. People who can even zero in on local generalizations simply amaze me.
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