Lets Talk Bugs
By Tom Lager

This weekend was the early season opener – what a beautiful Saturday. As I trudged through the sticky snow across the field toward the Pine, past soft-walking fox tracks and dried clumps of little blue stem I anticipated becoming reacquainted with the stream since I was there in fall. This reach of the Pine is not open to fishing yet, so I expected to see fancy and free brookies. Yes, they were there – fast darts across the watercress and under the lunker structures and banks. The beauty of this reach has an abiding effect on me and others who are familiar with its modes and seasons – a fine result of the supreme Planner.

Fig 1 Upper Pine, 3 March 2006, a beautiful stream brook

Most activity on behalf of the bugs was beneath the surface; however, there was evidence of life on the surface from small flights of midges. They took advantage of the warmth from bright sunlight and lack of wind to cruise up and down the stream. Females dipped their abdomens as they released their eggs and risked their lives above submerged brookies. Black stoneflies were there too, as I had hoped. Several fluttered along the stream edge and grasped low hanging grass stems – their folded wings blended well with the stems. They were clumsy in flight and barely cleared the surface, as if creating an unfair advantage for the trout. I caught one by hand and realized in examination that a reasonably tied hair / feather facsimile would cause a joyful experience for a trout fisher.

To see what provides forage for trout most often, I raised a rock, one large enough to be a stable substrate, and gathered a number of creatures clinging to its surface. Brachcentrus (four sided stacked twig case) and a similar caddis fly (case of fine sand) were most common – hint for future fishing success in May. Midges, mayflies and net spinning caddisflies were also present. The macro invertebrate community feeds trout and also sculpins, which in turn provide food for the larger brookies.

I measured the water temperature and was surprised it was 45-46 F; I expected a temperature closer to 50 F. Even at the site where springs flowed from the ground the water was the same temperature. I expect that the DNR scientist who have studied these waters know the thermal characteristics of this spring brook community better than me.

Fig 2 A nice handful. Jim Hlaban would say, “Good indicators of a healthy stream”

If you have an interest in bugs, their environment and ecological relationships, Jim Hlaban coordinates a program for volunteers to conduct biological monitoring of waters across our region, including bugs. He conducts training sessions and you don’t have to know scientific names (he has identification aids that work), just have an interest and want to learn about our ecosystem. Jim can be reached through our TU Chapter. He is one of those guys who believes in taking the time to turn over the rocks and look at the bugs.