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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.

Lateral view of a Female Sweltsa borealis (Chloroperlidae) (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from Harris Creek in Washington
I was not fishing, but happened to be at an unrelated social event on a hill above this tiny creek (which I never even saw) when this stonefly flew by me. I assume it came from there. Some key characteristics are tricky to follow, but process of elimination ultimately led me to Sweltsa borealis. It is reassuringly similar to this specimen posted by Bob Newell years ago. It is also so strikingly similar to this nymph from the same river system that I'm comfortable identifying that nymph from this adult. I was especially pleased with the closeup photo of four mites parasitizing this one.
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.
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Ephemerella aurivillii Mayfly Nymph Pictures

This specimen seems to be morphologically identical to the darker specimens of its species, but it's a very distinctly different color. I'm guessing this is a gender difference, just as I've guessed for the similar E. subvaria nymphs.

This mayfly was collected from unknown in Wisconsin on February 5th, 2004 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25th, 2006.


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Ephemerella aurivillii Mayfly Nymph Pictures

Collection details
Location: unknown, Wisconsin
Date: February 5th, 2004
Added to site: January 25th, 2006
Author: Troutnut
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