Oil Creek, Venango Co, 5-5-20

[Prospector]

Time Fished: 530pm - 630pm

Weather Conditions: 67 degrees, Sunny

Water Conditions: 53 degrees, heavier flow that was a little off color; today’s 465 cfs was just over the average for today being 445.

Insects: Caddis in moderate to low numbers. This was the same Caddis that was on Tionesta Creek in heavy numbers on Sunday (5/3).

I just made a quick trip on the way home from camp. I had just 2 strikes in an hour landing one. I saw some other anglers catching a few here or there. No rises in the stretch that I fished. Saw about 5 other fishers at any one time. People coming and going.

 

[dryflyguy]

Certainly looks like a grannom.
And they were hatching there 2-3 weeks ago.
Guess the cool weather has prolonged them

 

[troutbert]

dryflyguy wrote:
Certainly looks like a grannom.
And they were hatching there 2-3 weeks ago.
Guess the cool weather has prolonged them

I agree they look grannoms. And it's interesting because the grannoms have been over on lower Spring Creek and Bald Eagle Creek for about 3 weeks.

 

[dano]

Troutbert,
To my knowledge, there is 3 confirmed species of brachycentrus on Oil Creek.The last species usually starts hatching about 7-10 days after the first two species hatch ends. I believe there is at least 4 species of grannoms.

 

[dano]

Prospector,
This is what's been hatching here. Cold mornings are delaying the hatch until mid afternoon. Today was 1-3PM.
I'm wondering if these cold frosty nights are killing off the adult caddis.

Anyhow, this is what's been hatching since Sunday. Both are #18's and I included photos of both pupa and adult.

 

[Prospector]

Dano,

Very nice photos. I can’t remember the last time I saw a green bodied Caddis. Those are really bright. The dries I have never leave the box anymore. It’s very odd that I never cross paths with them.

 

[PennKev]

Brachycentrus appalachia (Apple caddis)?

 

[dryflyguy]

PennKev wrote:
Brachycentrus appalachia (Apple caddis)?

My thoughts too.
I've only encountered the apple caddis on the north central freestoners - sinnamahoning, kettle, and pine creeks. And the delaware river
But that fly has a very light, cream colored wing

 

[dano]

Cheumatopsyche genus. Net spinner.
Around here we call them "bright green caddis" or Mother's Day caddis.

 

[troutbert]

dryflyguy wrote:

PennKev wrote:
Brachycentrus appalachia (Apple caddis)?

My thoughts too.
I've only encountered the apple caddis on the north central freestoners - sinnamahoning, kettle, and pine creeks. And the delaware river
But that fly has a very light, cream colored wing

I've seen the apple caddis mostly on Pine Creek and Loyalsock Creek.

It's true that it has a very light colored wing.

It is also much larger, size 14, rather than size 18 like the caddis in the photos.