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.

For how many years, I wonder, have these huge slabs of rock sheltered wild brook trout?

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York

Stream photos

Featured on the forum

Re: Trico emergers
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Bwoklink (Martinlf replied)

Re: Trico Tips
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Martinlf

Re: UV spectrum and trout
In General Discussion by Martinlf

Re: closing the gender gap in flyfishing
In General Discussion by Konchu (Smallflyguy replied)

Re: Fishing Kupa River, Slovenia
In Fishing Reports by Slocum (Fish1 replied)

Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult

Lateral view of a Female Sweltsa borealis (Chloroperlidae) (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from Harris Creek in Washington

I was not fishing, but happened to be at an unrelated social event on a hill above this tiny creek (which I never even saw) when this stonefly flew by me. I assume it came from there. Some key characteristics are tricky to follow, but process of elimination ultimately led me to Sweltsa borealis. It is reassuringly similar to this specimen posted by Bob Newell years ago. It is also so strikingly similar to this nymph from the same river system that I'm comfortable identifying that nymph from this adult. I was especially pleased with the closeup photo of four mites parasitizing this one.

15 Recently Added Photos

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.

Kayak trip #2: this time it was smallmouth on dry flies!

Jmd123 has attached these 3 pictures. The message is below.

Jmd123

Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474

Jmd123 on Jun 12, 2011June 12th, 2011, 7:02 pm EDT

My boss told me I needed to check out Cooke Dam Pond on the Au Sable River for kayaking and fishing. He was right! After a frustrating day throwing streamers with only one little 10-incher on a Woolly Bugger, the wind finally calmed down, the water became smooth as glass, and there were flies all over the place, both mayflies and caddisflies (saw some earlier in the day but the wind was blowing pretty good). There were these little ripples here and there, and I thought well heck, let's try some dry flies, even if they're just little panfish it will be more fun than catching nothing. Well, they weren't panfish, they were 14-16" smallmouth! Two of them took a #12 cream Elkhair Caddis and the other two a #10 White Wulff. What a surprise to have tiny slurps turn into raging, leaping, broad-shouldered bass! And on the 7 1/2-foot 3-weight too, by far my favorite rod...

I swear guys, I must have found Fisherman's Paradise up here!

Jonathon

No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...

Oldredbarn

Novi, MI

Posts: 2600

Oldredbarn on Jun 13, 2011June 13th, 2011, 7:44 am EDT

"That's Pure Michigan!!!"

"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood