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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.
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.

Male Cheumatopsyche (Little Sister Sedge) Caddisfly Adult Pictures

I didn't identify this one directly, but I eventually identified one of several I collected from the same swarms that appeared to be of the same species. (I lost track of which specimen was which in storage.) The microscope pictures come from one of these specimen, not necessarily the same specimen as the DSLR pictures. They key to Cheumatopsyche, and the hind wing venation that separates them from Hydropsyche is pretty clear in the attached picture as well as another specimen I checked under the scope.

This specimen was one of tens of thousands we saw on a July 1st evening on the Madison, beginning with big swarms around every vehicle and tree at the Eight Mile Ford access point and continuing all up and down the river bank. We somehow didn't catch any trout, perhaps because they were stuffed with pupae from when these things emerged. Or maybe we just weren't fishing well. Either way, this one represents a major hatch there.

I somehow forgot to photograph this important specimen against the hooks size chart, but fortunately I preserved a few. The body length is about 6 mm, and total length from head to wingtip is 9 mm.

This caddisfly was collected from the Madison River in Montana on July 1st, 2019 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 18th, 2019.


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Male Cheumatopsyche (Little Sister Sedge) Caddisfly Adult Pictures

Collection details
Location: Madison River, Montana
Date: July 1st, 2019
Added to site: July 18th, 2019
Author: Troutnut
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