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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 Male Ameletus vernalis (Ameletidae) (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph from the Icicle River in Washington
Keying this one out using Zloty & Pritchard 1997:
-No ganglionic markings on sternites 2–8
-Posterior margins of sternits 6–8 without numerous spines
-Mesal gill extension well developed (I really don't like the "well developed" language when it's subjective, but in this case the other option doesn't lead anywhere productive)
-Tails pale in basal 1/3
-Larger species (13–16 mm) — this one is just shy of 12 mm, but closer to 13 than to <10
-Spring emergence
This all points to Ameletus vernalis.
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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You can create new topics in this section from each hatch's page in the insect section.
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May 23, 2014
by Entoman
GD Shuck
May 29, 2013 by Martinlf in species Ephemera guttulata
10
Jun 2, 2013
by Crepuscular
Brown Drake? [Page: 1, 2]
Jun 19, 2011 by Derdmann in species Ephemera simulans
20
Jun 29, 2011
by TNEAL
5
Dec 4, 2008
by Beardius
7
Jun 12, 2007
by GONZO
Nix compar
Sep 18, 2006 by GONZO in genus Ephemera
8
Sep 19, 2006
by Troutnut
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