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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 Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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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Landscape & scenery photos from the Kenai River

Lena's Kenai River rainbow
The Kenai River in Alaska
Kenai River rainbow I caught on a leech pattern Perry tied
Sierra landing a trout

From the Kenai River in Alaska
View to the Kenai Mountains from the river below Skilak Lake

From the Kenai River in Alaska
Lena with a trout on the line

From the Kenai River in Alaska
Unhooking another trout for Lena

From the Kenai River in Alaska
Water on the Kenai was about 3 feet higher than usual, up into t

From the Kenai River in Alaska
Netting Lena's trout
The Kenai River in Alaska
The Kenai River in Alaska
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