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.

I spent more than an hour casting to several rising trout in this pool and caught only two. Its clear water and tricky currents harbor dozens of free-rising, usually very hard-to-catch fish.

From Enfield Creek in New York

Stream photos

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Grammotaulius betteni (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva Grammotaulius betteni (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Grammotaulius betteni (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

This is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.

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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.

Another sulphur for comment

Female Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur) Mayfly Dun

4 Pictures

Female Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Dun from unknown in Wisconsin

Collected May 22, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Collected May 22, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Martinlf

Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047

Martinlf on Aug 17, 2007August 17th, 2007, 5:43 am EDT

And this one, also from the midwest, is more green than the sulphurs I recall seeing this season. My limited experience in PA streams suggests that many, if not most, of the sulphurs here are best imitated by pale yellow, bright yellow, or orange bodies. Gene, and others, am I far off?

"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

Gene
Posts: 107

Gene on Aug 21, 2007August 21st, 2007, 7:26 pm EDT

Yes, I believe that the mayfly may be more greenish because of the reflection of green from the leaf during the flash. Sometimes depending upon the angle of the flash the insect will pick up certain colors. You can prove this to yourself by simply get a piece of green paper and reflecting the light onto your hand or face with it. This is what some fly fisherman use to call the "light sulfur." Remember that the pH of the water has a lot to do with color of insects especially mayflies. You are correct that most of the sulfur female bodies are some shade of the colors you suggested. This color will vary with time of year, stream, ph, and a host of other things. That's why I have to laugh sometimes when someone declares in a book that a certain species of insect is this exact color. It's the clearest sign that this person hasn't fished much and is another armchair outdoors man. I would like to know which stream this mayfly was collected from, just for the heck of it.

tight lines and big rising trout

gene
www.limestoner.com