What Fish Eat
Aquatic insects make up the majority of a fish's diet. The four key insect orders (listed first and not including Streamers or Terrestrials) that emerge from streams and lakes are:
Stoneflies
Stoneflies usually spend 10 to 11 months as larvae. However, with different stonefly species it can range from 6 months to 3 years. They typically shed their skin from 6 to 22 times. When the larvae are fully developed, they drift in the stream currents and eventually crawl out of the water to transform into adults.
The larvae target good emergence sites such as bridge abutments, wood debris, fallen trees, exposed tree roots, aquatic plants, and most often, rocks.
Becoming an Adult Stonefly
Once out of the water, they secure their tarsal claws, split their skin from the head along the thorax, and a teneral adult crawls out. (A departed stonefly skin is shown below.)
Most species of stoneflies transform to adults at night to avoid being eaten by predators. They next move to nearby vegetation such as trees where they wait for their new skin to harden. Adults usually live from 1 to 4 weeks.
Stonefly Larvae
| Pattern Name | Color | Hook Size | Thumbnail Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bead Head Poxyback Biot Golden Stone | White Body | # 12 | 
|
| Hare's Ear Nymph | Tan, Brown Body | # 16 | 
|
| Kingrey's Little Yellow Stone Nymph | Yellow Body | # 16 | 
|
| Mercer's GB Poxyback Dark Stone | Black Body | # 16 | 
|
Stonefly Adult
| Pattern Name | Color | Hook Size | Thumbnail Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madam X | Brown / Yellow Body | # 8 | photo coming soon |
| Stimulator | Fire Orange Body | # 12 | 
|
| Yellow Humpy | Yellow Body | # 12 | 
|
Photo of Skwala Stonefly by P. Michael Carl © The Ecological Angler
