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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 Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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.

Iasgair
Iasgair's profile picture
Colorado

Posts: 148
Iasgair on Oct 24, 2018October 24th, 2018, 3:10 am EDT
Davie McPhail has uploaded 62 wet fly patterns from T.E. Pritt's book North Country Flies. This book was printed in 1885 I believe, and has some wonderful patterns in it.

Mr. McPhail ties all these flies on his You Tube channel if you're interested in tying a few, or all, for yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/user/DavieMcPhail
PABrownie
PABrownie's profile picture
Gallitzin PA

Posts: 42
PABrownie on Oct 26, 2018October 26th, 2018, 4:46 am EDT
I always enjoyed Davies style, smooth and precise.

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