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Thread: Spotted Tussock Moth

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Nevada City, Ca
    Posts
    870

    Default Spotted Tussock Moth



    I had the coolest find today on the NFYR, lophocampa maculata ~ spotted tussock moth caterpillar. We found it in the middle of the river on a dry small rock and thought that was odd until it did the most incredible thing. It crawled down to the waters edge and took a ride down the currents for quite a ways until it found another rock, then crawled out and investigated a bit before taking another ride down the river. My first thought was what a fascinating piece of evolution this moth went through to be able to do this amazing feat, secondly; if it's floating down the river then the trout can see it as well! I'm thinking a large buzz hackle in the appropriate color scheme would do just fine. Regardless if a trout will take the caterpillar or not this was indeed a fantastic observation.

    Jon.
    "I fish, I write, I travel, and I'm hungry for more!"
    http://jonbaiocchiflyfishingnews.blogspot.com/

    http://www.baiocchistroutfitters.com/
    The premier fly fishing guide service for the northern sierra.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
    Posts
    23,837

    Default

    Another custom woolley bugger?

    Thanks Jon....
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sacramento
    Posts
    7,786

    Cool Caterpillars....

    Interesting discovery. I've always thought that they would sink. Natural hackling, I guess....

    I have a pattern in my collection I bought from a fly shop that used to be on Hwy 299 just outside Willow Creek in the late 60's. It's a wooly worm of the same colors and pattern tied on a Mustad, 7970 hook (remember how heavy that hook was??).

    Don't see them around here (mid-town) very often anymore.... Too Bad.
    "America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won't cross the street to vote."

    Author unknown

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Nevada City, Ca
    Posts
    870

    Default

    Natural hackling, I guess....
    That caterpillar was floating like a cork, and it had the best dry fly hackle mother earth can make.

    http://www.kiene.com/forums/images/icons/icon7.gif
    "I fish, I write, I travel, and I'm hungry for more!"
    http://jonbaiocchiflyfishingnews.blogspot.com/

    http://www.baiocchistroutfitters.com/
    The premier fly fishing guide service for the northern sierra.

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