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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 Grammotaulius betteni (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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.
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Landscape & scenery photos from the Gulkana River

The Gulkana River in Alaska
This is my biggest and certainly best stream-resident rainbow to date, a wild 19-incher pulled from a Class III-IV rapids.  It's also the first fish ever to take me into my backing.
A moonbeam illuminates a riffle and some fireweed.

From the Gulkana River in Alaska
The Gulkana River in Alaska
This is my first-ever lake trout, caught on a spinner before we stopped to unpack the fly rods near the beginning of a 4-day float trip.  I caught another of about the same size soon thereafter.  The coloration is incredible compared to other lakers I've seen -- a much more believable cousin to the brook trout.
Here's my first Alaskan salmon, a small king that put up a fun fight.
Here my dad drops his largest resident rainbow ever, after a spectacular fight.  It's a good 18 inches.
The Gulkana River in Alaska
The Gulkana River in Alaska
The Gulkana River in Alaska
The Gulkana River in Alaska

Underwater photos from the Gulkana River

The Gulkana River in Alaska

On-stream insect photos from the Gulkana River

I'm not positive on the ID on this one -- I can't see the defining characteristics well enough to confirm.
This is a female. Males of the same species in the area had very short wings.

From the Gulkana River in Alaska

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Gulkana River in Alaska

References

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