Mr. MUDEYE We’ve all seen dragonflies darting weaving around water, but where did they come from? Why are we so interested in them? Why are trout so interested in them? For anyone who hasn’t seen a mudeye, it would be difficult to believe that this awkward looking creature is the immature form of the dragonfly We usually see adult dragonfly from around October through to the following April. An airborne dragonfly is not a significant food item for trout, mainly because they are difficult to catch when in flight. Both young and more experienced trout will occasionally leap up to a metre from the water in a surprising attempt to catch a hovering dragonfly, with mixed success. However to a trout the mudeye, or immature dragonfly, represents an almost irresistible snack! It has a high protein value and not difficult to catch. From a flyfisher’s point of view it is well worth understanding some basic dragonfly - mudeye characteristics, as this will help to fish your mudeye pattern effectively. A typical mudeye lifecycle begins after the adult female dislodges fertilized eggs by dipping its abdomen onto the water whilst still in flight. After a few weeks the eggs hatch and the minute mudeyes, (also known as the mudeye nymph), begin their existence underwater. These may be only a few millimetres long, but within a few months they will have grown to about 30 – 50mm. The mudeyes’ mobility is an interesting thing, best described as “jet propulsion”. Unlike most other aquatic insects, the mudeye can repeatedly expel jets of water out from its abdomen giving a jerky forward movement fast enough to attack any prey. Mudeye nymphs are slightly higher in the food chain and will consume other smaller organisms including very small fish (ironically, even trout fry!). The next stage in the lifecycle is one of those amazing accomplishments that only nature can provide. It is just one of those things that you really must see to believe! As is the case with many other aquatic insects, when the environmental conditions are favourable, and mudeye nymphs have reached maturity, they migrate in numbers from the water. Many species bump the surface from beneath as they squirt toward shore, so the takes of mudeye feeding trout can look and sound a lot like rises. The surviving mudeyes crawl out onto structures, such as rocks, grass, logs, etc - even anglers!- which are located above water.     As soon as the skin of the nymph has dried, the back splits open and the adult begins to emerge as an air breathing dragonfly! This emergence from the nymph can be difficult and may take anything up to 12 hours to achieve. (It's probably best compared to the camping fly fisherman having to emerge from a wet sleeping bag!!). Another interesting thing about this migration and emergence is that it occurs mostly very late in the evening (almost dark), through to early dawn - no doubt a survival technique used to avoid being devoured by birds and other land-based predators. Dry conditions favour the transition process, so mudeyes will generally avoid migrating on foggy, drizzly or rainy nights, though occasionally they are caught out by sudden and unexpected weather changes. Interestingly, during mudeye season, trout will often continue to look for mudeyes even on the ‘wrong’ nights - the food value is irresistible! So during the season, don’t discount using a mudeye pattern after sunset, even if it’s cold and damp. If the mudeye has escaped being eaten by predators and has succeeded in “hatching” into a dragonfly, it will mate with another adult and the cycle begins again. Trout will hunt mudeyes almost all year round, but to a flyfisher the most exciting time to use these fly patterns is during the migration period. This is the time when the mudeye is truly the “shining star” of evening fishing. There is a plenty of fly fishing information available on the subject of mudeyes, but remember, the very best way to acquire information is to investigate it for yourself!, as they say, “there is no substitute for experience”, so grab a fine mesh net and head to the lake or river, turn over a few rocks and logs, work the net through some weed beds………………. Study the insects’ colour, size, shape and movement, all these observations are clues as to how you should present your fly. It doesn’t take long and you will be well and truly rewarded for your efforts. At Millbrook Lakes we experience some incredible catches using mudeye patterns. Have a look at Dave Dodd's or Dash Laver's Millbrook Lakes web pages for some great “guides choice” fly patterns and techniques……. Dennis Morresi