Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.
Featured on the forum
This one was surprisingly straightforward to identify. The lack of a sclerite at the base of the lateral hump narrows the field quite a bit, and the other options followed fairly obvious characteristics to Clostoeca, which only has one species, Clostoeca disjuncta.
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.
Leeches
This common name refers to only one class. Click its scientific name to learn more.
Animal Class Clitellata-Hirudinae
These are pretty much always called Leeches.
The subclass Hirudinae in the class Clitelatta contains all leeches. Leeches are occasionally found naturally in the drift in trout streams, although I've never heard of them being present in such numbers that they're a major component of the trout's diet.
They make great models for streamer flies because they're so large and ambiguously lifelike, and it's easy to make a little clump of feathers look quite a bit like a leech.
They make great models for streamer flies because they're so large and ambiguously lifelike, and it's easy to make a little clump of feathers look quite a bit like a leech.
