As I prepared to set foot for the first time in the Catskills' storied Esopus Creek, I noticed an Isonychia bicolor nymph crawling out onto a rock at my feet. I pulled out my handy little camera and started snapping pictures.

This process isn't as interesting to fly fishers as the emergence of a dun from a nymph on the water's surface. This is a point in the mayfly's development at which it's temporarily safe from the trout, but it's interesting to watch up close anyway.

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Several craneflies formed a mating cluster here in a dark rootwad along the bank of a large limestone trout stream.
Several craneflies formed a mating cluster here in a dark rootwad along the bank of a large limestone trout stream.

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I'm not sure what these clusters of grannoms are doing lying dead and mostly upside down in clusters on the rocks. Anyone have an explanation?
I'm not sure what these clusters of grannoms are doing lying dead and mostly upside down in clusters on the rocks. Anyone have an explanation?

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Here's a fresh ball of eggs from a Hendrickson spinner, photographed to show the proper color for the egg-ball on spinner patterns.
Here's a fresh ball of eggs from a Hendrickson spinner, photographed to show the proper color for the egg-ball on spinner patterns.

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The underside of a freshly emerged Ephemerella invaria dun.
The underside of a freshly emerged Ephemerella invaria dun.

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This Ephemerella invaria sulphur dun got stuck in its shuck trying to emerge. This isn't exactly a "natural" pose for a photograph, but it kind of shows what an emerger pattern could look like.
This Ephemerella invaria sulphur dun got stuck in its shuck trying to emerge. This isn't exactly a "natural" pose for a photograph, but it kind of shows what an emerger pattern could look like.

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I saw something strange flying around near the streambank, fluttering on and off the water's surface, so I went to check it out. I didn't recognize the wing profile in flight, and it's no surprise! These two caddisflies were joined mating, and they were very reluctant to let go.
I saw something strange flying around near the streambank, fluttering on and off the water's surface, so I went to check it out. I didn't recognize the wing profile in flight, and it's no surprise! These two caddisflies were joined mating, and they were very reluctant to let go.

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