Sedge sp?

[colona]

I fish a small stillwater for rainbows. Occasional checks of stomach
content show them to have ingested up to one inch lengths of old reed stem
which I assumed to be 're-used' as caddis cases, even finding an odd larvae
inside the tubes, though many are empty. Having now looked up which caddis
specie these might be, I find that my book gives no specie that uses old
reed stems as cases. Can any one suggest what these larvae are?

Richard Bailey
Fishing traditionally in The Fens

[Derek.Moody]

In article >, colona
> wrote:
> I fish a small stillwater for rainbows. Occasional checks of stomach
> content show them to have ingested up to one inch lengths of old reed stem
> which I assumed to be 're-used' as caddis cases, even finding an odd larvae
> inside the tubes, though many are empty. Having now looked up which caddis
> specie these might be, I find that my book gives no specie that uses old
> reed stems as cases. Can any one suggest what these larvae are?

Some simulid (black fly) larvae make cases that look like bits of weed stem
- not as big as you describe though, rarely over a cm at a guess.

Have a close look at the larvae you do find - check they are really in the
same cases and if so try and get them ID'd. You can preserve them in
spirits - drop into just enough alcohol to cover, leave for an hour then
change the spirit* The larva should now keep for long enough to get it to a
specialist. Your local museum will probably have links to someone who can
do the job.

If these are recent stockies there's probably a more mundane explanation.
Check what size pellets the fish were fed in the stewpond.

Cheerio,

*You keep the insect bottled in an eggcupful. Disposal of the rest of the
litre of overproof gin you bought is your problem.

--
>>

[Pepperoni]

You might try reference works in the library, or even take an example to the
University for identification. I am not familiar with your species. (Being
from the US)

I am curious, however, and find several reference works available online.
http://www.fishing-in-wales.com/wildlife/insects/sedge/index.htm
http://freespace.virgin.net/english.flyfishingshop/caddis-cinnamonsedge-dry.html
http://www.phoneflies.com/individualflies/caddis/index.asp

While I was viewing the wide variation in caddis patterns, I recalled the
story of a quite successful fisherman from years ago. In the States, a
great many streams are stocked with fish raised in hatcheries. Often, these
stocked fish are only a few inches long, but some are raised to legal size
before release. (back to the story) It seems an enterprising young
fisherman, having become aware that a new release of legal sized fish had
been made in water near his home, tied flies to match the color, size and
sink rate of the commercial food pellets used to raise the trout. The trout
may have been naiive to the stream fauna, but were quite willing to take
flies which resembled the food they had eaten all their lives.

Match the hatch.

Pepperoni

"colona" > wrote in message
...
> I fish a small stillwater for rainbows. Occasional checks of stomach
> content show them to have ingested up to one inch lengths of old reed stem
> which I assumed to be 're-used' as caddis cases, even finding an odd
larvae
> inside the tubes, though many are empty. Having now looked up which
caddis
> specie these might be, I find that my book gives no specie that uses old
> reed stems as cases. Can any one suggest what these larvae are?
>
> Richard Bailey
> Fishing traditionally in The Fens
>
>