How to Collect Trout Flies

Collecting trout flies and insects is an important part of fly fishing. The natural insects are used to determine the available food source. The collected samples also provide a specimen to use while creating matching fly patterns. Collecting the flies is easily accomplished in rivers and lakes. Insects in trout waters are abundant, and well preserved samples last for years. The flies collected that are not preserved are also easily returned to the water where survival is possible.

Things You'll Need

  • Mesh river seine
  • Mesh kitchen strainer
  • Dry mesh bug sweeper
  • White bucket
  • Water
  • Insect vials
  • Insect preservative
  • Adhesive address labels
  • Pen
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place a mesh collection seine against the bottom of the river. Hold the seine and stand upstream. Shuffle your feet to disturb the river bottom and send insects into the seine. Lift the seine from the water to expose the collection.

    • 2

      Sweep a mesh kitchen strainer through muddy lake and river bottoms and through weed beds. Remove the strainer from the water to expose the collection.

    • 3

      Add several inches of water to a small white bucket. Place the sample collection in the bucket. Observe the natural movements of the living insects.

    • 4

      Pull a mesh sweep net through bankside vegetation to collect the adult flies. Sweep the overhanging tree branches and the low sections of grass to collect mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies. Twist the mesh bag to prevent the insects from escaping.

    • 5

      Write the date, location and name of the identified insect on a blank return address label. Stick the adhesive side of the label on a glass insect vial.

    • 6

      Fill the vial with commercial insect preservative. The preservative is sold through entomology dealers and fly fishing stores. Use forceps to grab the identified insect without damaging the specimen. Place the insect in the vial and screw the lid on tight. Repeat for each insect.

    • 7

      Return the extra insects to a slow moving section of water. This provides an opportunity to return to natural habitat without fighting swift currents.