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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.

Lateral view of a Female Sweltsa borealis (Chloroperlidae) (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from Harris Creek in Washington
I was not fishing, but happened to be at an unrelated social event on a hill above this tiny creek (which I never even saw) when this stonefly flew by me. I assume it came from there. Some key characteristics are tricky to follow, but process of elimination ultimately led me to Sweltsa borealis. It is reassuringly similar to this specimen posted by Bob Newell years ago. It is also so strikingly similar to this nymph from the same river system that I'm comfortable identifying that nymph from this adult. I was especially pleased with the closeup photo of four mites parasitizing this one.
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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Male Siphlonurus (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner Pictures

Egg-laying females of this species were the most noticeable insect over the water at dusk on this small trout stream in Wisconsin's Blue Hills. I caught several of them and photographed one, but this was the only male, netted in mid-air mated to one of the females.

Male Siphlonurus (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin
Lateral view of a Male Siphlonurus (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin
Male Siphlonurus (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin
Male Siphlonurus (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin
Male Siphlonurus (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin
Male Siphlonurus (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin
Male Siphlonurus (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin
Male Siphlonurus (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin
Dorsal view of a Male Siphlonurus (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin
Artistic view of a Male Siphlonurus (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin
Ventral view of a Male Siphlonurus (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin
Male Siphlonurus (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin

This mayfly was collected from Devil's Creek in Wisconsin on June 14th, 2021 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on June 21st, 2021.


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Male Siphlonurus (Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner Pictures

Collection details
Location: Devil's Creek, Wisconsin
Date: June 14th, 2021
Added to site: June 21st, 2021
Author: Troutnut
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