The Art of Trout Fishing and the Science of Benthic Macro Invertebrates Richard VenVertloh, Chairman, Oatka Creek Watershed Committee October 28, 2010

Interrelationship of Benthic Macro Invertebrates, Water Quality and Trout Flies to Match Nature Maccaffertium vicarium (March Brown) Antique March Brown Fly

• • • • What are Benthic Macro Invertebrates?

Commonly referred to as: “macros” Benthic = bottom dwelling Macro = large enough to be seen without aid of a microscope Invertebrate = without a backbone Pycnopsyche sp. (Great Autumn Brown Sedges) Stenacron interpunctatum (light Cahill)

Important Water Quality Indicator Species and Trout Food Sources Order - Ephemeroptera – Mayflies Example: Stenacron interpunctatum (light Cah ill) Order - Plecoptera - Stoneflies Example: Agnetina capitata Order - Tricoptera – Caddis flies Example : Generic Larvae

Mayfly (Ephemeroptera)Lifecycle Example: Maccaffertium vicarium (March Brown) Nymph Dun Spinner

Caddis (Tricoptera) Lifecycle: Cheumatopsyche sp. (Little Sister Sedges) Larvae Pupa Adult

Other Common Taxa of Aquatic Macros In Oatka      Worms: flatworms, earthworms, & leeches Mollusks: snails, mussels, & clams Arachnids: water mites Crustaceans: aquatic sow bugs, scuds, & crayfish Insects: true bugs, beetles, dragonflies & damselflies, dobsonfly's & alderflies, midges, black flies, & crane flies Gammmarus fasciatus (Shrimp) Family – Chironomidae (Midges) Cambaridae - Crayfish

Biomonitoring in Oatka Creek • • • • Main Objective: Evaluate the Health of NY Rivers and Streams through the Analysis of Macro invertebrate communities. Stream Biomonitoring Unit, NYSDEC Collect Samples & Identify by Family, Genus & Species Assessment of the water quality based on known tolerance of the organisms to various amounts and types of pollutants.

Dr. William Sutton Report Independent monitoring conducted in 1992, 1993, 1997, and 2002 in cooperation with NYSDEC “A 2002 Ten Year Follow-Up Biological Monitoring and Assessment of Oatka and Spring Creeks in Upstate New York, August 2002”

2002 Macro Sampling Of the 300 samples taken@ 3 Locations • • • • • 31.1% Order EPHEMEROPTERA : Mayflies 2.7% Order PLECOPTERA : Stonefly's 9.7% Order TRICHOPTERA :Caddis Flies 38.5% Order DIPTERA: Bk. flies and Midges 18.0% Other

Water Quality Correlation Comparison of Family Biotic Index Values And Biological Impairment Classifications Location: Year FBI(1) Classification_(2)_ Oatka Creek @ Garbutt: 1992 3.56 Non-impacted 1993 4.96 Non-impacted 1997 2.97 Non-impacted 2002 4.11 Non-impacted _________________________________________________ (1) Family Biotic Index: 3.51 to 4.50 = Very Good , Possible Slight Organic Pollution (2) Classifications from Bode et al. 1990

• Conclusions NYS DEC indices are mostly in the “non-impacted” or “slightly impacted” ranges • The 10 year follow-up assessment did not show a significant change in water quality • Oatka Creek has an abundance of pollution intolerant macro invertebrates Oatka Trail

Fly Fishing “Brook Trout Fishing” , Currier & Ives, Lithograph, 1862

Sport of Many Complexities: Study of Entomology & Life Cycles Tying Fly's to Match Nature Precise Fishing Skills

Fly Tying You Can Never Have Enough!

Fly Tying Materials From Nature - Hackle

Fly Tying Materials From Nature _ Important Feathers

Fly Tying Materials From Nature: Furs for Dubbing

Tying Fly's To Match Specific Macro Species All Purpose Pattern: Adams

All Purpose Nymphs Prince Nymph Agnetina capitata (Stonefly)

All Purpose Nymphs: Pheasant Tail Typical Nymph (dark) Typical Nymph (Light) Hares Ear

Oatka Trail Fishing Access

Important Hatches at Oatka Order Ephemeroptera – Mayflies Family - Baetidae (Smallest of Mayflies) Genus/species - Baetis tricaudatus Blue Wing Olive Nymph Dun Spinner

Important Hatches at Oatka Blue Wing Olive –Emerger:

Important Hatches at Oatka Blue Wing Olive – Parachute Pattern:

Important Hatches at Oatka Blue Wing Olive –Standard Dry:

Important Hatches at Oatka Blue Wing Olive – Usual Pattern:

Important Hatches at Oatka Blue Wing Olive –Rusty Spinner:

Important Hatches at Oatka Order Ephemeroptera – Mayflies Family - Ephemerellidae (Sulphers, Hendrickson, PMD, BWO) Genus/species - Ephemerella subvaria Hendrickson Nymph Dun Spinner

Important Hatches at Oatka Hendrickson –Nymphs

Important Hatches at Oatka Hendrickson -Emerger

Important Hatches at Oatka Hendrickson - Standard Dry, Red Quill

Important Hatches at Oatka Hendrickson - Standard Dry, Spinner

Quill Gordon Pattern Oatka Park – Catch & Release, Artifical Only

Important Hatches at Oatka Order Ephemeroptera – Mayflies Family - Ephemerellidae (Sulphers, Hendrickson, PMD, BWO) Genus/species - Ephemerella invaria Sulpher Nymph Dun Spinner

Important Hatches at Oatka Sulpher- Emergers Soft Hackle Nymph Bead head

Important Hatches at Oatka Sulpher-Comparadun

Important Hatches at Oatka Sulpher-Standard Dry

Important Hatches at Oatka Sulpher- Spinner

Important Hatches at Oatka Order - Ephemerellidae (May Flies) Family – Leptohyphidae (Trico) Genus/species –Tricorythodes Stygiatus (Trico) TRICO Emerger Spinner Dun (dry)

Important Hatches at Oatka Order Tricoptera - Caddisflies Family Hydropsychidae (Spotted caddis) Genus/species Hydropsyche slossonae (Spotted Sedge)

Hairwing Caddis

Important Hatches at Oatka Order Tricoptera - Caddisflies Family Rhycophilidae (Green Sedge) Genus/species Rhyacophilia melita (Green Sedge)

Green Caddis Larvae

Important Hatches at Oatka Order Tricoptera - Caddisflies Family Rhycophilidae (Green Sedge) Genus/species Rhyacophilia melita (Green Sedge)

X Caddis Pattern

Important Hatches at Oatka Order Tricoptera - Caddisflies Family - Odontoceridae (Silver Sedge) Genus/species - Psilotreta sp. Black Caddis

Elk Hair Caddis

Important Hatches at Oatka Order Diptera ( Two Wing Fly) Family – Chironomidae (Midges) , 4 Subfamilies identified in Oatka Genus/species - 8 species identified inOatka , Typically Black & Dark Grey Midges

Antique Equipment

• References Insect Photos www.troutnut.com

• Biomonitoring and Stream Data www.dec.ny.gov

• Linda Driscoll, Adopt-A-Stream , Delta Laboratories Inc.

• Robert Herson - Fly Tyer and Licensed Guide, Caledonia NY