Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum

Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum (http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/index.php)
-   Fly-Fishing Discussion (http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/forumdisplay.php?f=101)
-   -   Identify this huge bug? Ram River (http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=325588)

Oh2fish 07-16-2017 10:23 PM

Identify this huge bug? Ram River
 
Fishing below the falls on Saturday when my son started yelling and running downstream chasing something. This bug. Made me think of a cockroach! But it was about 2 1/2" long with big active legs. Anyone know what it is and something about it? Felt otherworldly!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4a63fd2c13.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh2fish 07-16-2017 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oh2fish (Post 3584924)
Fishing below the falls on Saturday when my son started yelling and running downstream chasing something. This bug. Made me think of a cockroach! But it was about 2 1/2" long with big active legs. Anyone know what it is and something about it? Felt otherworldly!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4a63fd2c13.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk



And another pichttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e17c921451.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh2fish 07-16-2017 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oh2fish (Post 3584925)
And another pichttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e17c921451.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk



And another ...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...62397e4274.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Passthru 07-16-2017 10:28 PM

That's called a "Giant Water Bug". Unoriginal name a know but it can give a nasty bite. Cool find

st john 07-16-2017 10:29 PM

does it have teeth

New Hunter Okotoks 07-16-2017 10:37 PM

Looks like Filet Mignon for a big Bull Trout!

Oh2fish 07-16-2017 10:44 PM

Thanks Passthru. Angus chased it because he wanted to catch it but really didn't want to pick it up in his hand! I can hardly say I blame him. Boring name but it's also known as "toe-biter", and you are right, nasty bite. Ram River seems to be the last place I would expect to find something like this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SNAPFisher 07-17-2017 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oh2fish (Post 3584939)
Thanks Passthru. Angus chased it because he wanted to catch it but really didn't want to pick it up in his hand! I can hardly say I blame him. Boring name but it's also known as "toe-biter", and you are right, nasty bite. Ram River seems to be the last place I would expect to find something like this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

For sure but it also says they are strong fliers so I imagine you could find them really anywhere in North America.

I know for me the creep factor would have been high.

SamSteele 07-17-2017 09:04 AM

My high school biology teacher was writing a thesis on these same beetles. I caught him three from a small pond. Ended up getting a good mark in that class!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

pikeman06 07-18-2017 08:52 AM

They bite. We call em giant water boatman. They are bright green in our area till they mature. You will call them "dirty rotten #*!@#&*^#@!" if they give you a good pinch.

FlyTheory 07-18-2017 09:06 AM

They aren't a beetle, they're part of the order Hemiptera. These are true bugs. I've never been bitten by one, but I want to uhhh... try being bitten by them to know what its like.

edit/addendum: has anyone cleaned a fish with one of these inside a fish's stomach?

SamSteele 07-18-2017 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyTheory (Post 3585823)

edit/addendum: has anyone cleaned a fish with one of these inside a fish's stomach?

The bio teacher I had said that they actually would catch and eat smaller fish. I can't see why fish wouldn't eat them as well. I cleaned a couple pike this spring that were stuffed with dragonfly larvae and these guys live in the same type of environment.

SS

ETA: I found an interesting article on them if anyone wants a read. http://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1...10)00039-6/pdf

Dewey Cox 07-18-2017 10:42 AM

Well, I guess I have to bring a shotgun next time I'm fishing out that way.
Would 00buck be a robust enough round to take one of those down if it was charging you?

SNAPFisher 07-18-2017 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamSteele (Post 3585847)
The bio teacher I had said that they actually would catch and eat smaller fish. I can't see why fish wouldn't eat them as well. I cleaned a couple pike this spring that were stuffed with dragonfly larvae and these guys live in the same type of environment.

SS

ETA: I found an interesting article on them if anyone wants a read. http://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1...10)00039-6/pdf

Good article. Now I've got that creepy feeling of something crawling on me...
Quote:

the intense pain experienced is related to the salivary
enzymatic action, which can liquefy tissues
:scared0018:

SamSteele 07-18-2017 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox (Post 3585876)
Well, I guess I have to bring a shotgun next time I'm fishing out that way.
Would 00buck be a robust enough round to take one of those down if it was charging you?



Lol. Better use slugs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

fallen1817 07-18-2017 12:45 PM

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...ghlight=shunda

I knew I had seen one eating a fish before... Scroll down to Post #5... Right below the selfie :sHa_sarcasticlol:

MrDave 07-18-2017 04:19 PM

https://youtu.be/HjRoGyRE5z0

Here's one hunting


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:18 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.