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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 Grammotaulius betteni (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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.

Brooklover
chester county pa

Posts: 20
Brooklover on Apr 24, 2008April 24th, 2008, 12:31 pm EDT
I lived in fairbanks for a year and once camped off the denali highway before the lakes. I followed some of the small streams that crossed the road and saw no fish. These streams were so clear it was amazing. Just wondering if there were any fish in these streams and if so how do you catch them. All i had was a spinning rod and some worms and never even had a bite. Also is there any decent trout fishing near fairbanks or is it all down south.
Troutnut
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Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Apr 24, 2008April 24th, 2008, 2:50 pm EDT
Most of those little streams off the Denali Highway have grayling fishing in them. I think they're hit pretty hard right at the road bridges, but you can run into great fishing if you're willing to walk away from the road a ways (sometimes just 50 yards... although that can feel like a mile in some of the vegetation). I was mostly west of the Tangle Lakes. The Denali Highway is a BEAUTIFUL drive... surely one of the best in the world.

The only fish you'll find in any of those streams are Arctic grayling. Usually they'll hit just about anything. If you didn't catch any on worms you probably just hit a really bad day or were too close to the road. There are supposed to be small populations of dwarf Dolly Varden in a couple of the streams in the Nenana drainage on the Cantwell side, but I haven't caught any.

There are no trout near Fairbanks, except stockers in lakes. It's too far north, so it's all grayling around here. The Chena upstream from Fairbanks, along Chena Hot Springs Road, has amazing fishing for big grayling. Lucky me I'm getting paid to spend most of the summer out there on the river. :)
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Aaron7_8
Aaron7_8's profile picture
Helena Montana

Posts: 115
Aaron7_8 on Apr 25, 2008April 25th, 2008, 1:09 pm EDT
Troutnut,
What sort of hatches do you have on your streams? When do they start or is it more of a water temp start? Always been curious about that knowing how snow melt affects everything in our freestone rivers here.
Getyourbone
Baldwin, WI

Posts: 28
Getyourbone on Apr 25, 2008April 25th, 2008, 1:39 pm EDT
Ya, as I was fishing today I started wondering what makes a nymp say to itself,"ya know nows the time! I'm going for it. See ya later guys. Last one up and out is a rotten egg!" Why do I seem to see the mayflies in groups as well? while watch the water I will see nothing and then all of a sudden a dozen will come floating by and then I won't see any for awhile. Do you figure they are siblings?
Taxon
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Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311
Taxon on Apr 25, 2008April 25th, 2008, 10:45 pm EDT
Steve-

Do you figure they are siblings?

If you're talking about Baetis, perhaps. I'd expect Baetis siblings to be somewhat more geographically concentrated due to the adult female's oviposition behavior.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
Getyourbone
Baldwin, WI

Posts: 28
Getyourbone on Apr 26, 2008April 26th, 2008, 2:57 am EDT
Ya, Baetis is what I was thinking of and what I saw yesterday. Some seemed a little greener bodied than the photos posted on this site but I suppose that could be because of local enviromental variables..

Taxon
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Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311
Taxon on Apr 26, 2008April 26th, 2008, 6:15 am EDT
Gyb-

Perhaps so. The Baetis emerging on April 25th in Wisconsin would likely be B. vagans, which is now classified as B. tricaudatus. As to body color, that can also vary between sexes, and even change within the first few minutes following emergence. However, I don't recall any reference to Baetis dun body color being described as green.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
Hallofthe
Posts: 7
Hallofthe on Apr 26, 2008April 26th, 2008, 7:55 am EDT
I want to post some pictures from The Chena River near Fairbanks Alaska for identification. How do I post them? No luck so far.

Tiff
Troutnut
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Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Apr 26, 2008April 26th, 2008, 8:26 am EDT
Go to the photography section of the board. Start a new topic and instead of clicking submit click "save and add pictures." Then you'll go to a page with a form to add pictures that should (hopefully) be pretty easy.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

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