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Lake Erie Charter Captain Dave Adams of D & D Charters answers questions and provides tips and insights into fishing the region.
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August 25, 2004
The stable fly, a coward of a bug
Only a bug can turn a perfect fishing day into an unpleasant one. We were 10 miles from shore. The weather was perfect - it was warm for that time of morning, probably about 80 degrees; the sun was shining; and with a slight offshore breeze, Lake Erie was tranquil. We had set the first pole; then, the second pole, and as I turned my back to grab the planer boards, the fish hit.
To a charter captain nothing is better than the sound of "fish on," especially before the other poles are set; at least, until I heard the next few words, profanity laced, at that.
"*&~@ it," my client said as he fought the steelhead. "What the &$** is biting my ankle?"
Before I looked down, I knew the answer. It was a stable fly. It is a coward of a bug. It appears out of nowhere. Its preferred method of attack is to wait until a big fish is on, land on your ankle (in groups of three), and begin chewing. They are blood-feeders and they hurt, and even if the fish are hitting and the weather is perfect, this mean and obnoxious bug can make for an uncomfortable trip.
Innocent looking? Don't bet on it!
Their name, the stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) is appropriate; their life cycle is disgusting; yet like everything else, they, too, are a part of Mother Nature's scheme of life.
Unlike the mosquito - which you don't feel bite because of a numbing chemical in its piercing mouthpart (proboscis) - the stable fly is not as kind. The bite is painful.
With its strong mandibles, it will drill into you, moving sideways, back and forth; put a little saliva-like material in the wound to keep the blood from clotting; and lap up the blood with a sponge-like tongue, which has small curved spines on the tip.
Where this critter was before it dined on your blood will make you cringe, too.
The best description that I ever heard of this bug is that they are filth feeders. Their role in nature is to help break down mammal dung. High populations are usually associated with dairy or feed lot agricultural activities. Their young (for lack of a better word) larvae usually develop in cow dung, but can do so in any decaying vegetation, such as lawn clippings, refuse from packing plants, or waterweed cast up on lake shores, says Agriculture Canada.
The female, when depositing eggs will often crawl into loose material. Each female fly might lay 500 - 600 eggs in 4 separate layings. Eggs are small, white and sausage-shaped. Eggs hatch in 2 to 5 days into larvae which feed and mature in 14 to 26 days. Larvae are typical maggots and transform to small brown capsules (pupae) from which the adult flies emerge. The average life cycle is 28 days ranging from 22 to 58 days depending on the weather. Adult stable flies can fly up to 70 miles from their breeding sites in search of hosts or breeding stock, but are not found in residential areas. So, how can they be found 10 miles out on open water?
In one study, Dr. Rich Merritt (Dept. of Entomology Aquatic Entomologist, Michigan State University) was unable to find breeding populations near recreational areas. He theorized that most are blown in from dairy and other livestock operations. It is not unusual, for example, for insects such as the stable fly to be carried many miles on summer weather fronts or blown offshore by the summer heating and cooling of inland air masses such as the day we experienced.
When hungry, stable flies are persistent and will continue to hunt a blood meal even after being swatted at several times. Although the bite is painful, there is little irritation after the bite, and few people have an allergic reaction to it.
Stable flies found around the Great Lakes are not in their own habitat. The only alternative is to protect yourself. Repellants should be used prudently. Most commercially available repellants contain DEET. Apply it sparingly and never directly to the skin of children unless the amount of DEET is less than 30%. Read the label and follow all directions.
But the best preventive medicine is socks and long pants. It is a rare day when I wear shorts while fishing on Lake Erie because I would rather keep my blood and donate it only to a worthy cause. Besides, a little sweat while fighting a fish is good and "Fish on" is better than #@*&.
Good Fishing,
Capt. Dave Adams
Dave Adams is an author and professional charter captain who operates D & D Charters on the Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie.
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