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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.

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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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Gripngrin
Front Range - Colorado

Posts: 17
Gripngrin on Nov 25, 2006November 25th, 2006, 12:31 pm EST
"I've been thinking of upgrading to something digital for my nature/stream photography, but at this stage of my life am on something of a budget. I currently use Pentax compatible lenses and would like to continue to do so with a new camera body. Do any of you have specific recommendations for a good used camera? Which is better, a digital SLR or straight digital?"
Konchum
Grip'n Grin Mike
Gripngrin
Front Range - Colorado

Posts: 17
Gripngrin on Nov 25, 2006November 25th, 2006, 12:54 pm EST
Konchu-

If your Pentex lens work on their new digi bodies (K2, K, KA, KAF, and KAF2 Mount), certainly consider that choice. Their new body is a serious contender feature wise, and has garnered good reviews. See: www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/istds2.html
For this quality of a DSLR, the price is very competitive, around $400 I think.

I shoot Canon. During my transition from film to digi, I originally shot a Nikon D100 because of a decent lens collection from film days. After a year it became obvious that Canon has many advantages over Nikon and sold my Nikon system. Both Nikon & Canon lens' are comparable, quality wise. In my opinion, Canon's imaging processing technology is superior. Nikon shooters please chime-in here.

Again, if you have some decent lens that will work on a new body, do it! A decent P&S digi cam will cost as much as the strait Pentex body.

Mike

Grip'n Grin Mike
Konchu
Konchu's profile picture
Site Editor
Indiana

Posts: 498
Konchu on Nov 25, 2006November 25th, 2006, 1:18 pm EST
Thanks, Mike, for starting the new thread.
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Nov 25, 2006November 25th, 2006, 2:14 pm EST
Going strictly by picture quality, a DSLR is your best bet. It's also best if you're looking for maximum custom control over all the camera's functions. I don't know the specifics of Pentax equipment at all because I use Canon, so I'll defer to Mike's judgement on that.

There are a few exceptions, normal digital cameras with very high quality and plenty of custom control over exposure parameters. The Panasonic Lumix DLC-LX2 comes to mind, based on the reviews I've seen (I haven't used it). But as a general rule DSLRs are better.

Portability/durability is a really big factor, too. It's a real pain to carry a DSLR everywhere you go, and it's a big enough investment you'll want to be very careful with it (which gets annoying around the water). A compact digicam is easier to carry around all the time and to protect, especially if you get a waterproof one (like the Pentax waterproof line).
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

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