Header image
Enter a name
Lateral view of a Male Baetis (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #43 in New York
Blue-winged Olives
Baetis

Tiny Baetis mayflies are perhaps the most commonly encountered and imitated by anglers on all American trout streams due to their great abundance, widespread distribution, and trout-friendly emergence habits.

27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.
Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

True Flies

This common name refers to only one order. Click its scientific name to learn more.

Insect Order Diptera

These are pretty much always called True Flies.
This incredibly diverse order holds tens of thousands of species. They are the "true flies" with two wings, and they have complete life cycles (larva to pupa to adult). Beyond that they have little in common.

The most important family is Chironomidae, the midges. The craneflies of Tipulidae and the related families may also be important, as may be several of the others in the right place and time.
Lateral view of a Tipulidae (Crane Fly) True Fly Adult from Brodhead Creek in Pennsylvania
Ventral view of a Simuliidae (Black Fly) True Fly Larva from Fall Creek in New York
Lateral view of a Chironomidae (Midge) True Fly Pupa from the Gulkana River in Alaska

True Flies

Scientific Name
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy