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.

Dorsal view of a Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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.

Updates from August 8, 2011

Updates from August 8, 2011

Underwater photos by Bnewell from the Touchet River in Washington

This is a tailed frog, genus Ascaphus that lives in cold fast streams of the west. Perhaps this critter is one reason that leech flies work in some trout streams.

From the Touchet River in Washington

Closeup insects by Bnewell from the Touchet River in Washington

Calineuria californica (Perlidae) (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph from the Touchet River in Washington
Drunella coloradensis (Ephemerellidae) (Small Western Green Drake) Mayfly Nymph from the Touchet River in Washington
Drunella coloradensis (Ephemerellidae) (Small Western Green Drake) Mayfly Nymph from the Touchet River in Washington

Comments / replies

Oldredbarn
Oldredbarn's profile picture
Novi, MI

Posts: 2600
Oldredbarn on Aug 10, 2011August 10th, 2011, 9:42 am EDT
Bob,

Nice pics! I love those Drunella! They look like they could knock around just about any other aquatic insect...Like they have been "bulking up" in the weight room.

Spence
"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Aug 10, 2011August 10th, 2011, 2:56 pm EDT
Those are nice ones! I think Drunella doddsii could beat them up in a heavyweight boxing match, although they do look more nimble.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Entoman
Entoman's profile picture
Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Entoman on Aug 10, 2011August 10th, 2011, 5:11 pm EDT
In water where Drunella can be found, everything gets out of the way of the perlids.:)

Kurt
"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman

Quick Reply

Related Discussions

Topic
Replies
Last Reply

References

Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2023 (email Jason). privacy policy