Weird Mayfly Question

if it meant livin or dying id be at an all you can eat buffet on the creek, i wouldnt see why you couldnt , but who knows what those little guys got in them

i've ridden my cycle thru a mayfly hatch. i never thought the ones i downed as protein. even so, they didn't curb my appitite. they sure do make a mess of the cycle, teeth and beard though!

ORIGINAL: anadromous

Pound for pound they have more protein than steak but you would have to catch a lot of flies to get a pound...a lot of flies.

I'd heard the same thing about ants too.  I'd think the duns and nymphs would have alot more nutritional value than the spinners too, as the adults use up stored reserves of energy till they die, being unable to eat.  Still, a spinnerfall would probably provide the easiest pickings...so itd be a question of quantity vs. quality.

As far as a real survival situation goes, I'd not really be concerned with fish so much at first, but rather a good source of edible vegetable matter.  It doesnt try to run away so you use far less energy collecting it.  Also, vegetables, especially fruits and starchy tubers, will provide much more energy, which will be in short supply.

If I were trying for fish I'd leave the flyrod on shore and try to set up some way to net chubs or trout in a tiny stream.  In a true survival situation, all bets are off, and I'd gladly pay a fine in return for a rescue.

ORIGINAL: dru2112

it's funny you mention that, one of the dishes i enjoy is a mayfly soup

Youre $hitting me...right?  If not...how bout a recipe?  And whats it taste like?

If I got hungry enough I'd eat the a--hole of a menstruating skunk , good question though   NOT

the only thing I would think about is maybe getting some bad water in ur system from picking them out and eating them.  But, when you gotta survive...

thats why you carry a survival kit with you some fishing line hooks water proof matcher or better yet flint and steel. btw a stainless blade knife doesn't work on flint need carbon steel.good to carry a small signal mirror in that kit too.A gill net packs easily? my qustion is this why in the heck would you venture out with out the proper provisions to save your but any way.I have seen survival kits that can pack into a altoids tin.biggest problem would be clean drinking water.if you drink bad water they will have an easy time following your brown smelly trail and find your body at the end of it! There are lots of great survival books on the market a great one was put out by the brit sas.