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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Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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By Troutnut on April 30th, 2014
In this area, the first place to catch grayling each year is also one of the least idyllic places in Alaska to fish, a spring-fed slough in downtown North Pole where many of the Chena River's grayling congregate to spawn. It runs low and clear while all the other rivers in the area are high, turbid, and still holding more icebergs than grayling. The angling pressure at popular access points looked more like the Catskills than Alaska, but I was still excited to catch my first fish in months. The grayling were abundant and eager, and I enjoyed ridiculously easy fishing on nymphs and more interesting action on dries for a couple hours before I tired of the highway buzz and the gas station scenery and headed home. Soon, water levels will drop and the real Alaska will be ready for play.
Photos by Troutnut from Badger Slough in Alaska
On-stream insect photos by Troutnut from Badger Slough in Alaska
Comments / replies
Catskilljon on May 2, 2014May 2nd, 2014, 3:28 am EDT
Wow, those pictures are really nice! I have seen photo's of Grayling but didn't realize they were so colorful...your shots are great.
Glad to see another is finally getting into some fish, sheesh this has been a slow start. CJ
Glad to see another is finally getting into some fish, sheesh this has been a slow start. CJ
Kschaefer3 on May 2, 2014May 2nd, 2014, 7:30 am EDT
I agree with CJ, beautiful fish! The colors that comes off grayling when the light hits them is incredible.
Jmd123 on May 2, 2014May 2nd, 2014, 10:37 am EDT
Nice fishies, Jason! Congrats on finally getting out with a fly rod. You got mosquitos already??? We haven't even seen them around here yet, and I think it's actually going to be a while...
Jonathon
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Oldredbarn on May 2, 2014May 2nd, 2014, 6:02 pm EDT
Jason,
Good stuff! Makes me wonder what it may have been like fishing for them in the Au Sable before they completely disappeared in the nineteen-teens sometime. A beautiful fish...
I've mentioned it here before but the only Grayling left in Grayling is in the Grayling restaurant, hanging on the wall. If I remember it sometime I'll take a picture of it.
If you are struggling with a little civilization in Alaska, I'm wondering how you are ever going to make it "down in the lower 48". :)
Spence
Good stuff! Makes me wonder what it may have been like fishing for them in the Au Sable before they completely disappeared in the nineteen-teens sometime. A beautiful fish...
I've mentioned it here before but the only Grayling left in Grayling is in the Grayling restaurant, hanging on the wall. If I remember it sometime I'll take a picture of it.
If you are struggling with a little civilization in Alaska, I'm wondering how you are ever going to make it "down in the lower 48". :)
Spence
"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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
PaulRoberts on May 2, 2014May 2nd, 2014, 7:03 pm EDT
Stunning grayling. Oh my! What beautiful colors. Oh my.
Martinlf on May 12, 2014May 12th, 2014, 3:37 am EDT
Beautiful, Jason. Thanks.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
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