There’s nothing better than a day at the lake with the hopes of catching a big fish. For the seasoned angler, you know that it is all about having the right bait for ultra light fishing. Trout is one of the best eating fish around, but to catch these sly fish, you have to have the right bait and be in the right spot at the time. Here is some of the best ultra light bait bugs used to catch a prize winning fish.
Mayflies
Mayfly season has many running for cover, but on the lakes they ar
e a delicacy to the fish. They are one of the most important foods in trout waters and have been used by fly fishers for decades. The Mayfly starts as an egg and then hatches into a nymph. These nymphs are between 4 mm and 40 mm. Trout love these and can’t get enough. These little nymphs cling to the rocks when in fast moving waters. After they lose their shuck, they are called a dun. The dun rides on the surface of the water. Ask any angler and they will tell you that are the best when these duns are on the water, you can pull out your dry flies and allow them to float alongside.
Caddisflies
Caddisflies are abundant in most streams. They are very tolerant to water pollution and are a dominate stream-bottom insect. They start as an egg and have three stages in their life: larva, pupa and adult. When they hatch they are a small larva that looks like a worm. They will exist in this cycle for about a year. There are more than 1,000 diverse species of this bug. After the larva matures, it makes a cocoon underwater and it will change into a pupa. This is known as the transitional stage. The pupa goes to the surface and splits wide open and an adult insect crawls out and flies off. The imitation pupa #10-16, as found in Fox’s or Gary LaFontaine’s, is perfect for any fly fishing trip.
Midges
Midges are often called “true flies,” as they look like regular houseflies. They are 22 to 28 cm or smaller. They go through four phases: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. They lay their eggs on the water’s surface and the larva prefers the silt and mud covered bottom. The larvae look like worms that are floating aimlessly on the water’s surface. They are an important food item for the trout. The Rim Chung’s RS2 mimics the natural bait closely and will fool any trout.
Stoneflies
Stoneflies are a small order of insects; however, they are relatively large as individuals. They are known
for populating sanitary, chilly, fast-flowing and sometimes barren streams, but they are significant to trout. They have three life cycles: egg, nymph and adult. The nymphs live in fast-flowing water. They have flat bodies with strong legs, as they are known for clinging to rocks. As the young nymph matures, they crawl up on the shore. This is called the emergence phase. This is important to fly fishers. When the nymphs are migrating to shore, they use the currents to make their journey. As they are washed with the current, the trout wait down in the shallows to feed. Mercer’s Poxyback Golden Stone and Rogue Foam Stone are two excellent options for imitation bait for the stoneflies.
Images courtesy of Photorasa, Bruce Martin, and Flagstaffotos
