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 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.
- 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.
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Jmd123 on May 20, 2010May 20th, 2010, 5:04 pm EDT
Motrout, if BWOs are what you are seeing, man, fish BWO imitations. I have honestly never run across them, at least not that I couldn't imitate with whatever I had on hand. I've never fished a Trico hatch either, or many of the other hatches so many have described on this site. On the two streams for which I have the most trout fly fishing experience - the Rifle and the Maple in northern lower MI - the big hatches are Light Hendricksons (probably still going on right now), Light Cahills, Hexagenia (not found in the Rifle), and various caddisflies. And, grasshoppers during the summer in the tributaries and areas near grassy banks. When there are no hatches, it's time to get out the Royal patterns - Coachman, Wulff, Parachute, etc.
Fish what you see and what works best for you and what you have the most confidence in. And yes, I am rather on the opinionated side, but I try to relate only my opinions and what I can say from my own experiences and not tell anyone else what they should do, only what I would do given the circumstances. And, what works for me in the waters I fish. As I like to say, your results may differ...
Go say HI to Crane creek for me and hassle a few of those McClouds. Did I tell you I caught the largest hornyhead chub of my life in there as well? He went for the nymph - yes, I actually used one, sight fishing so I saw him take it - when the rainbows turned up their noses at it...And he put up a pretty darned good fight for a chub! Big male with a red spot behind his eye and turbercules all over his forehead...
Jonathon
Fish what you see and what works best for you and what you have the most confidence in. And yes, I am rather on the opinionated side, but I try to relate only my opinions and what I can say from my own experiences and not tell anyone else what they should do, only what I would do given the circumstances. And, what works for me in the waters I fish. As I like to say, your results may differ...
Go say HI to Crane creek for me and hassle a few of those McClouds. Did I tell you I caught the largest hornyhead chub of my life in there as well? He went for the nymph - yes, I actually used one, sight fishing so I saw him take it - when the rainbows turned up their noses at it...And he put up a pretty darned good fight for a chub! Big male with a red spot behind his eye and turbercules all over his forehead...
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Motrout on May 21, 2010May 21st, 2010, 2:05 am EDT
I will definitely get over to Crane whenever I can. I love that creek.
Unrelated to the topic, but speaking of Crane Creek, they tried to dam it up last year to supply water to Springfield... I heard folks talking about, contacted TU, and they were able to stop it before the plans got off the ground. Amazing that folks would be willing to drown such a special little creek with such a rare strain of trout.
Unrelated to the topic, but speaking of Crane Creek, they tried to dam it up last year to supply water to Springfield... I heard folks talking about, contacted TU, and they were able to stop it before the plans got off the ground. Amazing that folks would be willing to drown such a special little creek with such a rare strain of trout.
"I don't know what fly fishing teaches us, but I think it's something we need to know."-John Gierach
http://fishingintheozarks.blogspot.com/
http://fishingintheozarks.blogspot.com/
Jmd123 on May 22, 2010May 22nd, 2010, 5:33 pm EDT
I thought SPRINGFGIELD was getting all of its water from the local SPRINGS which give the town it's name...Keep their grubby hands offa Crane Creek!!
Jonathon
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Motrout on May 23, 2010May 23rd, 2010, 11:43 am EDT
"Keep their grubby hands offa Crane Creek!"
No kidding! I'm just glad it got stopped. Thank goodness for TU.
No kidding! I'm just glad it got stopped. Thank goodness for TU.
"I don't know what fly fishing teaches us, but I think it's something we need to know."-John Gierach
http://fishingintheozarks.blogspot.com/
http://fishingintheozarks.blogspot.com/
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In the Mayfly Species Baetis brunneicolor by Admiralb
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