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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It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.
I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.
The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.
Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.
The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.
Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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Flyfisher06 on Apr 4, 2008April 4th, 2008, 5:14 pm EDT
Well I have been waiting for this week ever since the snow got too deep for me and my English Setters to chase grouse through the woods.Well the beginning of the week looked fair but I had to work through the week its gotten disapointing though . Melt off and rain has really got these streams and rivers swelled up. I was planning to go down to the Catskills . Well I guess the Esopus is going to have to wait til next week for me to visit her. I will just spend this weekend trying to find a fishable spot in my home stream the Battenkill or if thats no good I will try one of the others like a small stream in Ganesvoort or the Kaydeross in Saratoga. At any rate Ill get my line wet somewhere. If I have any luck Ill be sure to let you guys know how things went .Please tell me of your opening adventures and good luck to all !!!! Todd
IF I am not flyfishing or bird hunting I must be doing something bad like working !!
Flyfisher06 on Apr 6, 2008April 6th, 2008, 9:26 am EDT
Opening weekend wasnt much with Catskill streams too high to make the trip decided to check out my Battenkill. It was also too high to wade so I went to the Black Creek in Salem for a few hours.I found a spot where I could cast from shore and caught about a dozen stockies and either lost or released long distance another dozen or so. I caught them on about 4 different bead head nymphs zugbug,pheasanttail,pumpkincaddis and olive caddis.The best part about the morning was some bait fishermen showed up and had full intention on keeping their limit. From the time they arrived til I left the 2 of them kreeled 1 trout apiece while I caught and release about a half dozen and long released a few. I made sure that they noticed each fish by lifting the rod tip real high. A pair of flyfishers with the ones 10 or 11 year old son came and started asking me about this creek so I told them what I was using and said I would gladly give up my real estate to them if they would promise to catch and release plenty more in front of my greedy bait fishing friends.I didnt catch or hook any large fish but I did enjoy plying with those little guys and watching them swim away.Todd
IF I am not flyfishing or bird hunting I must be doing something bad like working !!
Raybob
Posts: 2
Posts: 2
Raybob on Apr 6, 2008April 6th, 2008, 5:17 pm EDT
I like you, have had a bit of cabin fever. Iam presently in upsate Vermont. The season opens here on the 12th. I am fairly new to flyfishing but I think I am in some good country to learn. I am recently retired and plan do a lot of fishing around the country. Any one having info about the fishing in the Southwest, Ariz. and New Mexico. I plan on being there next Winter.
Falsifly on Apr 7, 2008April 7th, 2008, 10:56 am EDT
Ray,
I have fished NM’s San Juan River on the quality water below the Navaho Dam in past years as early as the last week in February thru the second week of April. Being a tail water it offers year round opportunity. If you are into midge fishing I can profess the opportunity of large fish on diminutive flies, one of the many reasons I continue to return. However any of the early season techniques will suffice. If you would like more on my personal observations and opinions feel free to PM me.
I have fished NM’s San Juan River on the quality water below the Navaho Dam in past years as early as the last week in February thru the second week of April. Being a tail water it offers year round opportunity. If you are into midge fishing I can profess the opportunity of large fish on diminutive flies, one of the many reasons I continue to return. However any of the early season techniques will suffice. If you would like more on my personal observations and opinions feel free to PM me.
Falsifly
When asked what I just caught that monster on I showed him. He put on his magnifiers and said, "I can't believe they can see that."
When asked what I just caught that monster on I showed him. He put on his magnifiers and said, "I can't believe they can see that."
Flybyknight on Apr 7, 2008April 7th, 2008, 11:50 am EDT
I'm heading up to the East Branch tomorrow morning. Plan on spending a week. The gauge at Harvard gives temps of 3° to 6°C or about 39° to 41°F
Looks like streamers and black and also brown stone fly nymphs. I know we are looking at skunk city, but sorry folks, I just have got to go.
Dick
Looks like streamers and black and also brown stone fly nymphs. I know we are looking at skunk city, but sorry folks, I just have got to go.
Dick
Lightly on the dimpling eddy fling;
the hypocritic fly's unruffled wing.
Thomas Scott
the hypocritic fly's unruffled wing.
Thomas Scott
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