Fish Camp's Entomology Course: Insect Life Cycle

Maggie Heumann of Trout Unlimited helps us understand how the aquatic insect life cycle and the different variables that affect when they emerge.

Fish Camp’s Entomology course makes entomology approachable and fun, showing how understanding aquatic insects can help you catch more fish. Maggie breaks down the fascinating world of entomology — the study of insects — and explains why understanding aquatic insects is essential for fly fishing success.

You'll learn what makes an insect an insect, how their unique life cycles and adaptations influence fish behavior, and how this knowledge can help you better match your flies to what fish are naturally feeding on. Covering everything from basic insect anatomy to the key aquatic species important to anglers, this course will give you a solid foundation to read the water more effectively, choose the right fly patterns, and ultimately catch more fish. Whether you're new to fly fishing or looking to deepen your understanding of the bugs trout eat, this course will make entomology approachable, fun, and directly applicable on the water.

Maggie is a passionate entomologist and conservation advocate, and she turned a childhood love of insects into a career focused on protecting wild places.

Now based in Idaho and working with Trout Unlimited, she champions balanced stewardship to ensure future generations—like her two daughters—can experience the natural world as she has.