The Board

Ah right, the different species I’ve been looking at are in fact different beetles!

Do you have a clue as to what size in mm they are roughly and what size of hook I should use? I know that they have four wings, black on the ones I have googled.

The insect is about 1cm long but the glow part is maybe 3-4mm. However there are different species. Some are much larger. I had one fly around the boat last week that appeared larger. Next time I catch one I’ll measure and photo it. Actually I have a photo somewhere. I shall look tomorrow.

Cheers, Paul

Cheers mate!

Nope can't find the photos. I'll photograph the next one that drops in!

Cheers, Paul

Hmm, I wonder how much taste fish have of the bugs they eat if they are swallowing them whole. I have read that fireflies taste horrible because of the chemicals in their bioluminiscent organ and the glow warns predators to not eat them. Well, I'm going to try with some glowing flies anyway as an experiment. It can only work out well or not.

That's interesting. They certainly eat luminous artificial flies. I'm not a huge believer in the whole taste thing. It's been suggested that trout don't eat Alder flies because they don't taste good - but they eat the larvae. I think it's time of year. I know that Bernd suggests that they can smell flies - but then why don't you see blind fish rising? I think I need a fish tank for some experiments.

Cheers, Paul

Paul Arden wrote:but then why don't you see blind fish rising? I think I need a fish tank for some experiments.

Cheers, Paul

Are you planning on being the Josef Mengele of the fly fishing world?

No I’m going to feed them different tasting stuff. I won’t be fishing for them very often.

I googled Gourami and there were quite a few videos of giant Gourami in fish tanks. And there were other colours like white, black/red and the wild silver grey. I guess there are people who are more Mengeleish than Paul.