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A guide to the aquatic and terrestrial insects that drive fly fishing in European rivers and lakes.
Bibio johannis
A ubiquitous summer terrestrial — the Black Gnat is available to fish on virtually every European river when other hatches are quiet.
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Serratella ignita
The most important small olive on British and European chalk streams — reliable, widespread, and technically demanding.
Chironomidae sp.
The most important insect of all on stillwaters — year-round, in every month, on every productive lake and reservoir in Europe.
Caenis horaria
The infuriatingly tiny mayfly that hatches in such vast numbers that fish refuse to look at anything larger — the tying and presentation challenge of a lifetime.
Limnephilus lunatus
A common summer evening caddis found across Europe — its reliable evening hatches from June to August provide consistent dry fly fishing.
Melolontha melolontha
During evening flights, heavy beetles fall onto water and become high-value mouthfuls for surface-feeding fish.
Tipula spp.
When autumn daddy-long-legs blow onto rivers and lakes in August and September, trout abandon all caution for these clumsy, irresistible mouthfuls.
Brachycentrus subnubilis
The first major caddis of the year — appearing in huge April swarms, the Grannom kick-starts the surface fly fishing season on chalk streams.
Phryganea grandis
The largest caddisfly in the British Isles — powerful summer evening hatches provoke aggressive takes from the biggest trout and sea trout after dark.