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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 Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This specimen appears to be of the same species as this one collected in the same spot two months earlier. The identification of both is tentative. This one suffered some physical damage before being photographed, too, so the colors aren't totally natural. I was mostly photographing it to test out some new camera setting idea, which worked really well for a couple of closeups.
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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Male Baetis tricaudatus (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph Pictures

This specimen and many like it were found with other specimens I found to be duller-colored females of the same species. I wasn't aware of such a difference between male and female nymphs in Baetids, but all the morphological characteristics I checked in the key were the same, and the color patterns are, too -- just not the brightness.

Ruler view of a Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.
Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Ventral view of a Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Dorsal view of a Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Detached labium and labial palps.

Male Baetis tricaudatus (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

This mayfly was collected from the Yakima River in Washington on April 9th, 2021 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 12th, 2021.


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Male Baetis tricaudatus (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph Pictures

Collection details
Location: Yakima River, Washington
Date: April 9th, 2021
Added to site: April 12th, 2021
Author: Troutnut
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