Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.
Featured on the forum
This specimen keys to the Epeorus albertae group of species. Of the five species in that group, the two known in Washington state are Epeorus albertae and Epeorus dulciana. Of the two, albertae has been collected in vastly more locations in Washington than dulciana, suggesting it is far more common. On that basis alone I'm tentatively putting this nymph in albertae, with the large caveat that there's no real information to rule out dulciana.
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.
Light Cahill Spinners
Like most common names,"Light Cahill Spinner" can refer to more than one taxon. They're previewed below, along with 6 specimens. For more detail click through to the scientific names.
Mayfly Genus Stenacron
These are sometimes called Light Cahill Spinners.
The species in this genus were formerly classified in Stenonema. See the genus Maccaffertium for details. Only one species, Stenacron interpunctatum, is important to fly fishermen. See its page for details.
See 5 more specimens...
Mayfly Species Stenonema ithaca
These are sometimes called Light Cahill Spinners.
This female looks very much like a male I collected a few hundred miles away a few days later, so I'm guessing it's the same species, which I believe is Maccaffertium mediopunctatum.
This specimen seems to be of the same species as a dun I photographed which emerged from another nymph in the same sample.
See 2 more specimens...
Mayfly Species Cinygma dimicki
These are very rarely called Light Cahill Spinners.
I found a couple small (one or two dozen flies) clouds of these male spinners dancing low over the riffly parts of a pool in this fast river draining out of the Cascades.
See 2 more specimens...