Header image
Enter a name
Artistic view of a Male Pteronarcys californica (Pteronarcyidae) (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Adult from the Gallatin River in Montana
Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica

The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.

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.

Garden Hackles

This common name refers to only one family. Click its scientific name to learn more.

Worm Family Lumbricidae

These are pretty much always called Garden Hackles.
Earthworms frequently end up in the stream after they make a wrong turn crawling around on a rainy day, and trout relish them. It is interesting that fly fishers frown upon the San Juan Worm, a popular artificial imitaiton, considering that this form of terrestrial hatch-matching is just as rooted in biology as any ant or beetle fisherman's sport.

Since worms fit easily onto a hook, many fishermen skip all the feathers & thread tying and go straight for their favorite all-natural fly pattern: the real, live, wiggling "Garden Hackle."

Garden Hackles

Scientific Name
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy