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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 Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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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Pteronarcys californica (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph Pictures

This salmonfly nymph is probably not quite fully grown, as it still has a couple months yet to emerge.

Pteronarcys californica (Pteronarcyidae) (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Pteronarcys californica (Pteronarcyidae) (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Dorsal view of a Pteronarcys californica (Pteronarcyidae) (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Ventral view of a Pteronarcys californica (Pteronarcyidae) (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Ruler view of a Pteronarcys californica (Pteronarcyidae) (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.

This stonefly was collected from the Yakima River in Washington on April 9th, 2021 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 12th, 2021.


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Pteronarcys californica (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph Pictures

Collection details
Location: Yakima River, Washington
Date: April 9th, 2021
Added to site: April 12th, 2021
Author: Troutnut
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