I learned this morning of last week’s passing of Greg Hoover, a celebrated entomologist, gentleman fly angler, writer and fly tyer. Known widely for his expertise in the study of aquatic insects, Greg was a lifelong sportsman who freely shared his time and knowledge with his fellow anglers.
I would see Greg annually at the Fly Fishers Club of Harrisburg banquet and other angling functions around the Commonwealth, always enjoying our conversations. My fondest memory, from nearly thirty years ago, involves a talk about hatches on my little Falling Spring Branch. I mentioned the small hatch of Yellow Drakes (Ephemera varia) that occurred in the lower reach of that limestone spring. Greg acknowledged that these large mayflies were somewhat rare in Southcentral Pennsylvania’s small streams. He became excited when I stated that they hatched quite reliably about the 20th of May each spring. Greg counseled that varia is typically a late June emergence in the slow, finely silted areas of eastern rivers and questioned my timing. I assured him that I kept written records as I gained knowledge about my home water.
Greg thought there was a chance that these mayflies were a different species, one thought to be extinct, rather than Ephemera varia. We made a date to meet at my fly shop and visit the Falling Spring to witness the emergence. Greg arrived fully equipped with a large collecting net, magnifiers and specimen bottles. We relaxed and talked about the treasure of the limestone springs until the first mayflies appeared near dusk. He successfully collected several male imagos as required for DNA testing, a process that he waited several years for the opportunity to perform.
Whenever I would see Greg thereafter, I would ask about those tests, and we would relive our little twilight adventure. When at last the results were in, he let me know that the flies were indeed varia, attributing their early emergence date to the stability of water temperatures throughout the year. This had been my guess during our original discussion, but only that, and I appreciated his sharing his broad knowledge. That discovery has remained with me all these years, for it has given me some confidence in the degree day theory of hatch timing.
I had thought of Greg a couple of seasons back when my friend Mike Saylor had asked about periodic cicadas on Catskill Rivers. I found his Penn State email address still listed on the University website but failed to reach him. It was a number of years past his retirement. Hoover likely had more knowledge regarding this mythic seventeen-year cycle mega hatch than anyone.
I remember Greg as always being generous with his knowledge, ever with that light in his eyes when discussing stream insects, flies and fishing!
Rest in peace my friend and may all the mayflies perform for your delight as you fish on around the bend!
Bright Waters Catskill 