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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.

Dorsal view of a Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This specimen resembled several others of around the same size and perhaps the same species, which were pretty common in my February sample from the upper Yakima. Unfortunately, I misplaced the specimen before I could get it under a microscope for a definitive ID.
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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Great Gray Spotted Sedges

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

Caddisfly Genus Arctopsyche

These are often called Great Gray Spotted Sedges.
Arctopsyche grandis, the western species, is by far the most important in this genus. It produces excellent fishable hatches.
Lateral view of a Arctopsyche grandis (Hydropsychidae) (Great Gray Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the East Fork Big Lost River in Idaho
At first I had trouble believing this giant Hydropsychidae larva was actually a member of its family, because of the size. I had never seen such a thing. It turned out to be a member of this exceptionally large species with a fitting name, grandis.

Great Gray Spotted Sedges

Scientific Name
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