Tak's Spruce Moth
Fly of the Month 07.24 Moth
Aquatic Moth Life Cycle
Aquatic moths undergo complete metamorphosis of four complete life stages, the egg, the larvae, the pupa, and the adult stages. Adult females usually deposit their eggs on rocks under the water at night. Some pond-dwelling species may attach their eggs to the underside of leaves that are hanging over the surface of the water. The life span of the larval stage varies depending on environmental conditions, and some may overwinter as larvae. The pupa stage generally lasts less than one month and is unimportant to the fly fishing angler.
After emerging from the cocoon, the adult aquatic moth swims to the water's edge and drag themselves out of the water to find shelter to wait for their wings to dry. They are then able to take flight. The adult life span can range from one day to two months, depending on the species. Although they are terrestrial, adult aquatic moths will stay close to aquatic habitats. The entire life span of an aquatic moth is usually approximately one year, and they typically overwinter
Moths are a group of insects that are related to butterflies. In North America, there are 11,000 different species within 75 families. Most species of moth are nocturnal. Adult moths all have large wings that are covered with tiny scales. No other insect groups have this coating of scales on their wings. Moths usually hold their wings folded down flat. Color patterns vary a lot, but like the caterpillars, they are usually either camouflaged or bright with warning colors.
Moths are primarily terrestrial, but there are a few species with aquatic larvae. Moth larvae considered aquatic feed above the water surface on aquatic vegetation. Aquatic moth larvae can be found in still, slow, or rapidly flowing water-bodies that are unimpaired.either as larvae or pupae.
Caterpillars or Moth Larvae
Moth larvae or caterpillars all look fairly similar. They have long soft bodies, sometimes protected with spikes or hairs. They have six jointed legs and additional soft unjointed legs called prolegs. Most caterpillars are green or brown, and have color patterns that help camouflage them. Some caterpillars are poisonous or have toxic hairs or spines, and they often have bright warning colors to discourage predators. Always carry a few caterpillar flies during the summertime, terrestrial season. However, this article is about the adults.
A Nocturnal Lifestyle
Adult moth fly patterns are not high on the list of trout flies and are more typically used around dusk on stillwater and warmwater. Since moths are active at night, they are of minor importance to the fly fishing angler analogous to adult stoneflies. They are just not seen much an angler or a fish in broad daylight. However, in later evening, one best have an adult moth fly along with an adult golden stonefly in the fly box ‘cause that is when they both appear on our streams.
Fly of the Month 07.24 Moth
Antique Moth
Hook: Tiemco 100
Size: 12
Thread: Tan Gudebrod Size A
Body: Spun deer hair
Wing: Deer hair
Moth Lepidoptera
Originated by Scott Stisser
Ref: T&H, Terrestrials
DDD [Moth]
Hook: Hanak H200BL
Size: 10, 12, 14
Thread: Light olive 6/0 Uni
Body: Yellow dyed deer hair or klipsringer
antelope hair, clipped to shape
Wing: Spun yellow dyed deer hair or
klipsringer antelope hair
Flash: 1 strand pearl Flashabou each
side from behind wing hackle
Adhesive: Sally Hansen Hard As Nails
Originated by Tom Sutcliffe.
Veniards yellow dye used for hair.
Ref: T&H, Terrestrials
Doug's Hair Moth
Hook: Dry, wide gape, SE
Size: 6, 8, 10, 12
Thread: 6/0 White
Tail: Light elk body hair
Abdomen: White rabbit & gray chinchilla
rabbit fur, mixed, tied full & flattened
Wing: Light elk over gray Z-Lon, tied spent
Thorax: Chinchilla rabbit fur w/ guard hair
Antennae: Dun hackle tips
Ref: Stewart & Allen, Bass & Panfish 1992, p60
Janiec's Summer Moth
Hook: Partridge Klinkhammer
Size: 10, 12
Thread: White 6/0 Uni
Tag: Gold flat tinsel
Body: Bleached deer hair
Throat : Pheasant tail
Wing: Bleached deer hair
Eyes: Black mono eyes, small
Originated by Doug Janiec
Ref: T&H, Terrestrials
Janiec's Summer Moth
Hook: Partridge Klinkhammer
Size: 10, 12
Thread: White 6/0 Uni
Tag: Gold flat tinsel
Body: Bleached deer hair
Throat: Pheasant tail
Wing: Bleached deer hair
Eyes: Black mono eyes, small
Originated by Doug Janiec
Ref: T&H, Terrestrials
White Moth
Hook: Dry
Size: 14
Thread: 6/0 White
Tail: White deer hair
Rib: Fine copper wire
Body: White mink dubbing fur
Wing: White hackle tips, upright & divided
Hackle: White
Ref: Southern Appalachian
The Moth
Hook: Tiemco 5212
Size: 12
Thread: White 70-denier UTC
Body: 1/8" white foam cylinder
Underwing: Mottled brown MFC Etha Wing
Wing: Elk hair
Legs: Cree hackle
Marker: Gray permanent
Originated by Eric A Pettine
Ref: T&H, Terrestrials
Ginger Spruce Moth
Hook: TMC 5212, Mustad 94831
Size: 10
Thread: 6/0 Black
Tail: Golden pheasant tippet fibers
Body: Tan wool yarn, thin
Hackle: Ginger
Wing: Natural light tan deer hair,
leave butts to form head
Moth Lepidoptera Choristoneura freemani
Ref: Randle Scott Setzer, Bug Broker
Cream Spruce Moth
Hook: MFC 7000
Size: 12
Thread: Cream 8/0 MFC
Rib: Tying thread & hackle
Body: Cahill MFC UV Frog Hair
Wing: Bleached cow elk hair
Hackle: Cream Whiting Farms saddle
Moth Lepidoptera Choristoneura freemani
Originated by Koichi Kawai
Ref: T&H, Terrestrials
Parachute Spruce Moth
Hook: MFC 7000
Size: 12
Thread: Cream 8/0 MFC
Body: MFC UV cahill Frog Hair
Underwing: UV gray Flashabou Accent
Wing: Tan MFC Skinny Skin
Overwing: Bleached cow elk flank
Wingpost: White Widow's Web
Hackle: Cream
Moth Lepidoptera Choristoneura freemani
Originated by Koichi Kawai
Ref: T&H, Terrestrials
Koichi Snowshoe Spruce Moth
Hook: MFC 7000
Size: 12
Thread: Cream 8/0 MFC
Body: Caddis tan MFC Frog Hair
Wing: Snowshoe rabbit
Hackle: Cream
Originated by Koichi Kawai
Ref: T&H, Terrestrials
CW's Spruce Goose Moth
Hook: Tiemco 102Y
Size: 15
Thread: Sand 70-denier UTC
Rib: Copper wire, small
Body: 2 mm light gray Razor Foam
Thorax Light cahill Antron dubbing
Wing 4 large goose CC feathers
Hackle Light Pardo Whiting Farms CDL rooster
Moth Lepidoptera Choristoneura freemani
Originated by Koichi Kawai
Ref: T&H, Terrestrials
Tak's Spruce Moth -featured photo and instructions
Hook: Tiemco 2302
Size: 14
Thread: Tan 3/0 Danville Monochord
Body: Callibaetis color Nature's Spirit
peacock herl
Underwing: Light olive Whiting Brahma
hen hackle
Wing: Deer hair
Antennae: Pearl Krystal Flash
Moth Lepidoptera Choristoneura freemani
Originated by Rick Takahashi.
Ref: T&H, Terrestrials
Moth-Like Fly Patterns
Moss Fly
Hook: Daiichi 2720
Size: 2
Thread: Yellow 8/0 Uni
Underbody: 1mm craft foam
Body: Tan fox fur
Head: 1 mm tan craft foam &
tan UV Ice Dub
Underwing: 2 tan CDC feathers
Wing: 2 ring neck pheasant rump
patch feathers
Legs: CDL cock saddle
Originated by Yoshihiro Urushihara
Ref: T&H, Terrestrials
Peacock Fly
Hook: Dai-Riki 300
Size: 16
Thread: Dark green 8/0 Uni
Body: Peacock herl
Wing: White Bett's Z-Lon, bushy, tied delta-style
Originated by Vincent Marinaro
Ref: T&H, Terrestrials
Tying Materials :
Hook: Tiemco 2302
Size: 14
Thread: Cream Danville 6/0
Body: Callibaetis color Nature's Spirit peacock herl
Underwing: Light olive Whiting Brahma hen hackle
Wing: Deer hair
Antennae: Pearl Krystal Flash
Tying Directions :
- Mount hook and begin tight touching wraps from two eyelengths back of the hook eye to the hook bend returning the thread to the start. Let the bobbin hang.
- Select a length of gold wire and secure where the bobbin is hanging and make smooth wraps of thread to the hook bend, let the bobbin hang
- Select three ostrich barbs and tie in at the hook bend advancing the thread to the start and let the bobbin hang
- Gather the ostrich ( substitute for peacock) twist tightly and advance in tight touching turns to the thread and secure with two or three wraps trim the waster and let the bobbin hang. Trim the tall barbs.
- Counterwrap the gold wire to the start, in open turns and secure with thread wraps. Remove the waste wire and let the bobbin hang
- Select a hen feather and measure for length (slightly shorter than the hook shank) and strip away the extra barbs. Mount the hen on top of the hook shank with the length slightly past the hook bend. Trim the waste and let the bobbin hang.
- Select a single crystal flash. Tie in the crystal flash on top of the hook eye forming a loop in front of the eye. Trim the waste and let the bobbin hang.
- Select a small portion of deer hair and clean before stacking. Mount on top of the hook shank, maintaining a tight pinch to avoid spinning around the hook. Make tight thread wraps forward though the deer hair to the eye and tie off the thread with several half hitches. Cut thread.
- Trim the deer hair butts at an angle. Cut the crystal flash at the center of the loop and adjust the length as necessary.