Header image
Enter a name
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 Skwala (Perlodidae) (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This Skwala nymph still has a couple months left to go before hatching, but it's still a good representative of its species, which was extremely abundant in my sample for a stonefly of this size. It's obvious why the Yakima is known for its Skwala hatch.
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.

Landscape & scenery photos from the Ruby River

The Ruby River in Montana
Open country way up in the headwaters of the Ruby near the Gravelly Range road.

From the Ruby River in Montana
The Ruby River in Montana
One of five small-medium rainbows I caught on the Ruby despite high water from a recent thundershower.
The Ruby River in Montana
Headwaters of the Ruby.

From the Ruby River in Montana

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Ruby River in Montana

Lateral view of a Male Rhithrogena hageni (Heptageniidae) (Western Black Quill) Mayfly Spinner from the Ruby River in Montana
Although I could not find the preserved specimen to examine under my good new microscope, I'm tentatively calling it one Rhithrogena hageni, based on apparent similarity to this specimen, which I was able to positively ID.

The relative angle of the penes is a bit shallower in this specimen, but I photographed another specimen from the same collecting trip (and I think even the same swarm, although I don't recall for sure) as the other one, and it had the shallower angle seen on this specimen. I'm guessing it's just variation within the species.
Lateral view of a Male Hydropsychidae Caddisfly Adult from the Ruby River in Montana
Ruler view of a Male Drunella (Ephemerellidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from the Ruby River in Montana The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy