Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.
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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.
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Troutnut.com User BrettB (Brett Billings)
Troutnut.com User BrettB (Brett Billings)
Real Name
Brett Billings
Location
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Biography & Thoughts
Originally from western Kentucky, started tying flies at age 11 in the middle of bass and catfish country. Was considered a bit odd. Eventually studied salmon flies under Ken Sylvia in Fairbanks, AK...Kim Rassmussen of Denmark and a few others. Worked for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife 1993-2004 as producer of TV show Kentucky Afield. Did master's of biology research on "An Aquatic Insect Bioassessment of the Cumberland River Tailwater in Southcentral Kentucky," completed in 2004 (Eastern Kentucky University). Working on Cumberland Tailwater fishing guide in spare time. Currently employed with US Fish and Wildlife in Shepherdstown, West Virginia doing National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Videos. Enjoy fishing the Potomac for smallmouth, trips to Alaska for salmon and Halibut with my wife, Shelly.
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Brett Billings
long-time tyer and amateur entomologist
long-time tyer and amateur entomologist