The River Avon has an abundant insect live. For many years we tested and counted the insect life of the River. We found the following main insect groups: –
Gammarus (fresh water shrimps
Stonefly Nymphs
Caddis fly (both cased and uncased)
Mayfly Ephemeridae (stock picture live pic to be added)
Flat bodied Heptageniidae
Blue-winged Olives and Olives Baetidae (sometimes referred to as “agile darters”)
Pictures of the above were taken on 14th March 2025
We also find hog lice, leeches, blood worms and (in the burns) water boatmen.
Quite often we will also pick up loaches, minnows, sticklebacks and the occasional small trout. There has been a freshwater lamprey picked up in a sample of the mains burn. so when you are choosing your fly perhaps consider what you are up against.