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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 Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This species was fairly abundant in a February sample of the upper Yakima.
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.

Landscape & scenery photos from the Gulkana River

The Gulkana River in Alaska
The Gulkana River in Alaska
Wolf tracks we found on the trial during the slog out

From the Gulkana River in Alaska
A 17-inch rainbow I caught Thursday evening
Canyon Rapids

From the Gulkana River in Alaska
One of the next casts after that 21-incher produced this 18-incher
The Gulkana River in Alaska
And another
The Gulkana River in Alaska
A very typical section of the six miles of "trail"

From the Gulkana River in Alaska
Another view of Josh's big one
I spent at least an hour standing on this rock trying to launch ~75-foot casts of a big streamer and split shot (with a narrow windoer for the backcast) into a piece of deep, calm water across the river, where at least two rainbows kept chasing my fly but missing as the whitewater in between grabbed my line and ripped it away from them. A great trial-by-fire for my new 5-weight rod. When I finally got the hang of the casting and presentation, I caught one around 13 inches and eventually hooked the one I was after, a beast in the 21-23" range or so. But it took off downstream on me faster than I could follow and got the angle it needed to spit the hook.

From the Gulkana River in Alaska
Josh's first Gulkana rainbow, small but colorful
The target of those long casts was the far end of that dark piece of flat water behind the rear boulder.

From the Gulkana River in Alaska
While I was taking pictures of the whitefish I caught, I heard loud splashing in the water upstream.  Two caribou cows and their calves were crossing the river.  (Only one calf is visible here.)

From the Gulkana River in Alaska
The upper Gulkana, moonlit shortly after midnight.

From the Gulkana River in Alaska
I think this is Lena's nicest grayling yet, around 16 inches.
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