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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.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
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.
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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Lastchance
Portage, PA

Posts: 437
Lastchance on Oct 24, 2009October 24th, 2009, 1:29 am EDT
My interests have returned to midge fishing again for the late fall and winter. Anybody care to share any of their favorite pupa or larva patterns? I've tied flies from the Midge Magic book by Koch and Holbrook and have had success with several of their patterns.
Bruce
RedQuill27
Wisconsin

Posts: 13
RedQuill27 on Nov 15, 2009November 15th, 2009, 2:26 am EST
I like to use a pattern that I invented a couple of seasons ago. I call it Pete's Paradise Pupae
Hook: Curved Caddis Hook Size 18-22
Thread: Black 8/0 Uni-Thread
Rib: One strand Pearl Krystal flash
Body: Black tying thread
Wing: Clear Antron yarn tied in like spinner wings and clipped very short
Thorax: Peacock herl
Head: Silver bead optional
Fishing is like sex, when its good its great, and when its bad its still pretty good.
MTWFF
Montana

Posts: 1
MTWFF on Jan 2, 2011January 2nd, 2011, 4:33 am EST
Theres my 2 favorites!



Wayne's SRP
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57003849@N06/5312540039/
(Copy Link to address box to see)
Hook: Hvy Scud 14
Bead: MFC 5/32 Brass Gold Finish
Body: Blk 6/0
Rib: Red Ultra Wire Fine
Segmented over wrap Clr Stretchy Beading Cord
Thorax: UV Peacock Ice Dubbing



Black UV BH Midge
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57003849@N06/5288647325/
(Copy Link to address box to see)
Hook: Hvy Scud 18
Bead: Blk 7/32 plastic
Body: Blk 6/0 Ultra Thread
Rib: Red Ultra Wire Fine
Thorax: Blk UV Ice Dubbing
I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will fall frozen dead from a bough without having felt sorry for itself.
Falsifly
Falsifly's profile picture
Hayward, WI.

Posts: 660
Falsifly on Jan 2, 2011January 2nd, 2011, 6:48 am EST






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."
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jan 2, 2011January 2nd, 2011, 8:35 am EST
Palomino midge in black or olive, Zebra midge, and Disco midge.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Sayfu
Posts: 560
Sayfu on Aug 21, 2011August 21st, 2011, 5:49 am EDT

White, metal bead head works best for me overall with varying abdomens, and thorax.

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