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.
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This is the first of it's family I've seen, collected from a tiny, fishless stream in the Cascades. The three species of this genus all live in the Northwest and are predators that primarily eat stonefly nymphs Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019).
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Troutnut.com User BrettB (Brett Billings)
Troutnut.com User BrettB (Brett Billings)
Real Name
Brett Billings
Location
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Biography & Thoughts
Originally from western Kentucky, started tying flies at age 11 in the middle of bass and catfish country. Was considered a bit odd. Eventually studied salmon flies under Ken Sylvia in Fairbanks, AK...Kim Rassmussen of Denmark and a few others. Worked for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife 1993-2004 as producer of TV show Kentucky Afield. Did master's of biology research on "An Aquatic Insect Bioassessment of the Cumberland River Tailwater in Southcentral Kentucky," completed in 2004 (Eastern Kentucky University). Working on Cumberland Tailwater fishing guide in spare time. Currently employed with US Fish and Wildlife in Shepherdstown, West Virginia doing National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Videos. Enjoy fishing the Potomac for smallmouth, trips to Alaska for salmon and Halibut with my wife, Shelly.
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Brett Billings
long-time tyer and amateur entomologist
long-time tyer and amateur entomologist