The river Gradac with its abundance of trout is a place of new inspiration for lovers of aquatic insects and Fly Tying masters.
Due to the high quality of water in Gradac river, the multitude and diversity of insect larvae and nymphs in zoobenthos is easily noticeable. Common orders are: Ephemeroptera , Trichoptera, Plechoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Gammarus. Abundance in aquatic insects is always present since the swarming takes place throughout the whole year. Flies from the families Chironomide Hawthorne, Plechoptera Nemouridae and May fly Rhitrogena first start appearing in the beginning of April. Massive swarming of Trihoptera Caddisa, Dolophilodes, May fly Baetis, Rhitrogena Epeorus, Ecdyonurus begins in mid-April as the water-level stabilizes. Throughout the end of May and to the end of August, water flies May fly – Ephemera Danica, which are considered by many to be the most beautiful, are present. Great swarm clouds of Plechoptera Perlidae (Big stone fly) are present in the beginning of June, and the insects can be seen on the water up to the end of August. Throughout the summer, insects from the order Trichopteri: Rhyacophila fuscula, Banksiola, Hydropsyche, Neophilax and Caenis from the family Ephemeroptera are present in the evening hours. In addition to aquatic insects, land insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets, ants, wasps and other beetles comprise the trout’s menu and their imitations should be tried in August and September.
