Part 4 Chironomids

These insects are a huge part of the Trouts diet, and I mean huge. The fish target this insect all year long with special attention during prolific hatches from ice off to ice on. Trout will feed on them to the point of over stuffing themselves at times during the most abundance.

Common name -Chironomid

Order - Diptera

Family - Chironomidae

Colors - Browns, Blacks, Greens, Creams, Reds,

Chironomids have segmented bodies and have a well developed head, 2 pairs of “Prolegs”  one near the head on the Thorax, and one near the end on the abdomen. They have small gills on the sides of their heads that are white in color (See above picture).

The different colors are due to many factors, water clarity, temperature elevation, chemical composition oxygen levels, and makeup of the lake bottom. Some Chironomids are pure red (Bloodworms), this is a hemogloben like substance that  allows them to get more oxygen from the water allowing them to live in areas with lower oxygen levels. Chironomids can have many generations in one year in warm water, in colder water such as high elevation lakes they usually only have one generation per year.

Once the chironomid is ready for its final transformation it wriggles its way to the surface very slowly. They will come up from the bottom at all depths and will rest many times throughout the emergence.  Once they reach the surface their biggest challenge awaits, they must break through the surface tension.  On a windy day this tension is less and allows the Chironomid to break through  fairly quickly and easy.  If there is  no wind the surface tension is  heavier and because of this requires more effort and time to break though.

The adult stage is not much of a target for the trout, but I have seen trout take the odd one when they can. The Chironomid is like many other insects in that they will return to the water to lay their eggs. Some will just fly over the water, dipping their abdomen into the water from time to time dropping eggs, others will land on the water and lay all their eggs in one place.

Some samples of artificial flies used to imitate these insects.

Tight lines & Fun Times

Rick Passek AKA “The Flyfish Fanatic”