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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.

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.

About "Mystery Creeks": If you recognize one of these, you already understand why I'm keeping it a secret. I'm not as strict as some anglers about hiding where I fish, mostly because I don't expect to substantially affect fishing pressure on already well-known or simply unpopular waters. But there are some gems where I don't want to add a single unfamiliar bootprint to the mix, due to the fishing, their wild character, or keeping a friend's secret. They're all "Mystery Creek" here—even the lakes.

Landscape & scenery photos from Mystery Creek # 89

I caught several wild and colorful 8-9 inch brook trout in the clear little pool below this waterfall.

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
For how many years, I wonder, have these huge slabs of rock sheltered wild brook trout?

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Of all the pools I've fished, this one was most deserving of the colorful little brook trout it held.

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
This little pool shelters some eager small-stream brook trout.  You can see this pool from underwater, too.

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
No method of casting in my arsenal was capable of presenting a fly to the brook trout in this hidden pool.

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York

Underwater photos from Mystery Creek # 89

Here's another view of the pool under the waterfall shown in this picture.  This time one of the pool's many brook trout is visible, but well-camouflaged.  Can you find it?

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
This little pool shelters some eager small-stream brook trout, though I caught or frightened them before I took the picture.  You can see this pool from above the water, too.

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
The rock wall across the picture is at least 15 feet away -- this is extremely clear water in a tiny Catskill stream.  This plunge pool to a large waterfall holds many brook trout in the 8-9 inch range but they hide too well to spot in this photo.

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
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