01-01-2018, 06:51 PM
[#0000FF]Those are midges...not gnats.
Unlike mosquitoes, midges have no biting mouth parts. They are both male and female.
They hatch when water and air temps suit them. It is usually late morning...but not always. Sometimes they begin very early in the day.
Midge larvae are a big part of the invertebrate food supply for fish in Willard. All species will live off them if no larger food is available. And the young of most species need them to grow large enough to feed on shad or other fish species.
The larvae live in the mud in various parts of the lake and may be almost anywhere on the lake. But they are most prevalent where there are muddy shallows...like the NE corner of the lake or off other shallow beaches when water levels are lower.
Get a head net to wear when the swarms are worst and you will avoid getting them in your eyes, ears and mouth. Good protein but not very tasty.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
Unlike mosquitoes, midges have no biting mouth parts. They are both male and female.
They hatch when water and air temps suit them. It is usually late morning...but not always. Sometimes they begin very early in the day.
Midge larvae are a big part of the invertebrate food supply for fish in Willard. All species will live off them if no larger food is available. And the young of most species need them to grow large enough to feed on shad or other fish species.
The larvae live in the mud in various parts of the lake and may be almost anywhere on the lake. But they are most prevalent where there are muddy shallows...like the NE corner of the lake or off other shallow beaches when water levels are lower.
Get a head net to wear when the swarms are worst and you will avoid getting them in your eyes, ears and mouth. Good protein but not very tasty.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]