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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.

I spent more than an hour casting to several rising trout in this pool and caught only two. Its clear water and tricky currents harbor dozens of free-rising, usually very hard-to-catch fish. From Enfield Creek in New York

Stream photos

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Holocentropus Caddisfly LarvaHolocentropus Caddisfly Larva
Dorsal view of a Holocentropus (Polycentropodidae) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This one seems to tentatively key to Holocentropus, although I can't make out the anal spines in Couplet 7 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae nor the dark bands in Couplet 4 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, making me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in keying it out. I don't see where that could have happened, though. It might also be that it's a very immature larva and doesn't possess all the identifying characteristics in the key yet. If Holocentropus is correct, then Holocentropus flavus and Holocentropus interruptus are the two likely possibilities based on range, but I was not able to find a description of their larvae.
11 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.

  1. Trout Streams
    2. ›
  2. New York
    3. ›
  3. The Beaverkill River

  1. Trout Streams
    2. ›
  2. New York
    3. ›
  3. The Beaverkill River

The Beaverkill is perhaps the most famous fly fishing stream in America, largely because of its history, and it can still be a good one if you don't let its history spoil your expectations.

Almost every pool has a name and a story or three in the great works of fly fishing literature.

Landscape & scenery photos from the Beaverkill River

This 15" brown trout took a small emergent sparkle pupa on a large Catskill river.
Here's an underwater post-release picture of a 15" brown trout I caught in a clear Catskill river.
This is Cairn's Pool on the Beaverkill, possibly the most famous pool in all of trout fishing. From the Beaverkill River in New York
The Beaverkill River in New York
I'm breaking my rule about naming locations for this picture, since the context adds much to its meaning. This great blue heron is standing on a slab of river-worn concrete silhouetted against the NY Quickway bridge over the Beaverkill River at Cairn's Pool. Several human fishermen pursue trout from one shore while an avian fisherman pursues them from the other. From the Beaverkill River in New York
The Beaverkill River in New York
The Beaverkill River, Cooks Falls Pool in New York
Two storied Catskill rivers become one at this pool. From the Beaverkill River in New York
The Beaverkill River, Horton Bridge Pool in New York
This popular Catskill stream was a bit crowded on one of the prime days of the Hendrickson hatch. From the Beaverkill River in New York
Oops. I let my little light cahill spinner dangle in the air a bit too long while looking for rises. There were at least 30 bats flying around the pool, and this one hooked itself on my fly. I just let it fly around my rod tip and, while trying to figure out what to do, I took some pictures. (When in doubt...) Eventually it managed to unhook itself and fly away. From the Beaverkill River in New York
A swift tributary of a Catskill trout stream slides down its own high delta of boulders and cobble. From the Beaverkill River, Horton Bridge Pool in New York

On-stream insect photos from the Beaverkill River

Caddis on Catskill cobble. From the Beaverkill River in New York
Here are the empty nymphal cases of Isonychia bicolor mayflies which hatched in early fall in the Catskills by crawling out onto a rock. From the Beaverkill River in New York
An ant struggles to escape the surface of a Catskill stream. The black dot on the right is the ant's shadow on a rock on the bottom. I can see how this would appeal to a trout. Even I kind of want to eat the thing. From the Beaverkill River, Horton Bridge Pool in New York
The Beaverkill River in New York
I'm not sure what the caddisflies in this tight cluster are doing, but I'd guess it has something to do with mating. They scooted all around the rock, with some flies leaving the cluster and new ones coming all the time. From the Beaverkill River in New York
I found this little Paraleptophlebia dun along a Catskill stream, but not enough of her brethren were emerging to get the early-season trout to rise. From the Beaverkill River in New York

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Beaverkill River in New York

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Male Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Male Ephemerella subvaria (Ephemerellidae) (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York
I collected this male Hendrickson dun and a female in the pool on the Beaverkill where the popular Hendrickson pattern was first created. He is descended from mayfly royalty.
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Isonychia bicolor (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly Nymph
Artistic view of a Isonychia bicolor (Isonychiidae) (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York
This Isonychia bicolor nymph from the Catskills displays the prominent white stripe sometimes characteristic of its species. This is the first such specimen I've photographed, because members of the same species in the Upper Midwest have a more subdued stripe (and were once thought to be a different species, Isonychia sadleri). The striking coloration on this eastern nymph is more appealing.
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Female Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Ephemerella subvaria (Ephemerellidae) (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York
I collected this female Hendrickson dun and a male in the pool on the Beaverkill where the popular Hendrickson pattern was first created. She is descended from mayfly royalty.
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Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur) Mayfly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York
This small Ephemerella invaria nymph was at least a month away from emergence.
3
Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York
5
Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York
5
Isonychia bicolor (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Isonychia bicolor (Isonychiidae) (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York
4
Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York
I photographed this Maccaffertium vicarium nymph shortly after it molted to a new instar in my holding container. Many nymphs take on drastically different coloration immediately after molting, and this species is no exception.
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Brachycentrus appalachia (Apple Caddis) Caddisfly Adult
Lateral view of a Brachycentrus appalachia (Brachycentridae) (Apple Caddis) Caddisfly Adult from the Beaverkill River in New York
5
Female Paraleptophlebia (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Paraleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York
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Male Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York
4
Perlodidae (Springflies and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult
Dorsal view of a Perlodidae (Springflies and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult from the Beaverkill River in New York
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