Damsel flies exist on every
stream in the park but are
not very plentiful.
stream in the park but are
not very plentiful.
Other Aquatic Insects:
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| Fly Fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
Craneflies:
Craneflies are fairly abundant in the park's
streams. Trout will definitely feed on them in the
larva and adult stages of life. The larva stage of
the cranefly looks like a fat worm. The adults
have a skinny body and very long legs.
There are only a few aquatic species. Many of
them are terrestrial species that live in damp,
wet areas. It is worthwhile to carry imitations of
the larvae and adults.
Aquatic Beetles:
Aquatic beetles probably exist in every stream in
the park. The important question is "to what
extent". They are usually more common in
slower moving water and lakes.
Dragonflies:
Interestingly, most of the time I spot a large
amount of dragonflies in the park, they are
eating mayflies, caddisflies or midges. You will
see them dive down from high in the air and
grab a small fly just as if it were a bug rather
than an insect. I stopped fishing Little River on
day just to observe the feeding dragonflies.
Dragonflies are found more often in still or slow
moving water and are not exactly plentiful in the
park.
Damsel Flies:
Like the dragonfly, damsel flies are not very
plentiful in the park. They prefer still to slow
moving water. We question their importance as
a food item for trout.
Dobsonflies:
The adults of the hellgrammites are called
Dobsonflies. If you have collected very many
aquatic insects, you have probably found this
creature. They require lots of oxygen and cool
water. They are fairly common in the park
especially in water that borders being too warm
for trout. Certainly the dobsonfly larva are a
major food item for the smallmouth bass.
The dobsonfly undergoes complete
metamorphosis. The hellgrammites, which live
from one to three years depending on the
species, crawl out of the water to hatch. This
can be an important food for trout and we do
recommend you carry some imitations of them.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
Craneflies are fairly abundant in the park's
streams. Trout will definitely feed on them in the
larva and adult stages of life. The larva stage of
the cranefly looks like a fat worm. The adults
have a skinny body and very long legs.
There are only a few aquatic species. Many of
them are terrestrial species that live in damp,
wet areas. It is worthwhile to carry imitations of
the larvae and adults.
Aquatic Beetles:
Aquatic beetles probably exist in every stream in
the park. The important question is "to what
extent". They are usually more common in
slower moving water and lakes.
Dragonflies:
Interestingly, most of the time I spot a large
amount of dragonflies in the park, they are
eating mayflies, caddisflies or midges. You will
see them dive down from high in the air and
grab a small fly just as if it were a bug rather
than an insect. I stopped fishing Little River on
day just to observe the feeding dragonflies.
Dragonflies are found more often in still or slow
moving water and are not exactly plentiful in the
park.
Damsel Flies:
Like the dragonfly, damsel flies are not very
plentiful in the park. They prefer still to slow
moving water. We question their importance as
a food item for trout.
Dobsonflies:
The adults of the hellgrammites are called
Dobsonflies. If you have collected very many
aquatic insects, you have probably found this
creature. They require lots of oxygen and cool
water. They are fairly common in the park
especially in water that borders being too warm
for trout. Certainly the dobsonfly larva are a
major food item for the smallmouth bass.
The dobsonfly undergoes complete
metamorphosis. The hellgrammites, which live
from one to three years depending on the
species, crawl out of the water to hatch. This
can be an important food for trout and we do
recommend you carry some imitations of them.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
Site Map (Click on Links)
Abrams Creek Fishing Methods Marine Food Species
Anthony Creek Forney Creek Mayflies Spring
Big Creek Freestone Streams Midges Stoneflies
Beginners Recommended Gear Misc N.C. Streams Straight Creek
Caddisflies Hatches Misc Tenn. Streams Streams
Casting Hazel Creek Middle Prong Little Pigeon River Summer Season
Cataloochee Creek Headwater Stream Middle Prong Little River Terrestrials
Cosby Creek Caddisfly Imitations Noland Creek Twenty Mile Creek
Deep Creek Mayfly Imitations Oconaluftee River Wild Trout
Midge Imitations Other Aquatic Insects Winter Season
Eagel Creek Home PH West Prong Little Pigeon River
East Prong Little River Stonefly Imitations Presentation West Prong Little River
Fall Season Streamers Raven Fork Spring Hatch Chart
About Us Terrestrial Imitations Reading Hatch Charts Summer Hatch Chart
Recommended Flies Links Seasons Winter Hatch Chart
Fall Hatch Chart
Abrams Creek Fishing Methods Marine Food Species
Anthony Creek Forney Creek Mayflies Spring
Big Creek Freestone Streams Midges Stoneflies
Beginners Recommended Gear Misc N.C. Streams Straight Creek
Caddisflies Hatches Misc Tenn. Streams Streams
Casting Hazel Creek Middle Prong Little Pigeon River Summer Season
Cataloochee Creek Headwater Stream Middle Prong Little River Terrestrials
Cosby Creek Caddisfly Imitations Noland Creek Twenty Mile Creek
Deep Creek Mayfly Imitations Oconaluftee River Wild Trout
Midge Imitations Other Aquatic Insects Winter Season
Eagel Creek Home PH West Prong Little Pigeon River
East Prong Little River Stonefly Imitations Presentation West Prong Little River
Fall Season Streamers Raven Fork Spring Hatch Chart
About Us Terrestrial Imitations Reading Hatch Charts Summer Hatch Chart
Recommended Flies Links Seasons Winter Hatch Chart
Fall Hatch Chart
Damsel flies Nymphs