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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 Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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.

Wiflyfisher
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Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Jun 24, 2011June 24th, 2011, 3:17 am EDT
Stopping by to say "Hello". Jason, are you staying in Alaska from now on? How is married life? :)

You're missing some good fishin' back home...



Take care,

John
Troutnut
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Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Jun 26, 2011June 26th, 2011, 2:13 am EDT
Looks like some fun fishing back there!

My wife's not keen on staying in Alaska permanently, and I miss matching hatches to catch trout, so we'll probably be headed back to the lower 48 eventually. I'm certainly enjoying it while I'm here, though!

The fishing is good here, but along the road system it's rarely spectacular (except for grayling). The really good stuff most people think about when they hear the word "Alaska" costs almost as much to get to from Alaska as it does from anywhere else... the plane ticket into the state is a small part of the cost of those trips out into the bush where the really great fishing is.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Adirman
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Monticello, NY

Posts: 479
Adirman on Jun 26, 2011June 26th, 2011, 2:52 am EDT
Yes, I heard that from a guy down here who's son lives in Alaska and he goes up there to fish from time-to-time. He says alot of the popular spots are super crowded, even more so than in some cases than down here in the states.
Jmd123
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Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on Jun 26, 2011June 26th, 2011, 10:42 am EDT
Amongst the myriad options for "resettlement" back down here in the lower 48, Jason, you might think about northern lower Michigan as a possibility. We don't worry about size 22 Blue-winged Olives around here, but be sure you can tie up a good size 6 Hexagenia imitation!!

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

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Jun 26, 2011June 26th, 2011, 3:11 pm EDT
He says alot of the popular spots are super crowded, even more so than in some cases than down here in the states.


That's exactly it. For solitude and reliable good fishing along the road system, grayling are pretty much the only game in town. If you can get off the road a bit with a jetboat or float trip, many more options open up, but it really takes a bush plane to experience Alaska as the sort of fisherman's paradise most people picture. The fishing is still good around the roads; it just doesn't live up to Alaska's reputation.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Wiflyfisher
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Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Jun 26, 2011June 26th, 2011, 4:44 pm EDT
BTW, I was chatting with Brad Saturday morning and he was leaving to go to the airport to drop off Lucky. Brian 'Lucky' Porter is off to Alaska to film a segment on giant northern pike for Confluence Films newest efforts. Musky Country Outfitters is on a roll!!

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