Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.
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This specimen appears to be of the same species as this one collected in the same spot two months earlier. The identification of both is tentative. This one suffered some physical damage before being photographed, too, so the colors aren't totally natural. I was mostly photographing it to test out some new camera setting idea, which worked really well for a couple of closeups.
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Water Pennies
This common name refers to only one family. Click its scientific name to learn more.
Beetle Family Psephenidae
These are pretty much always called Water Pennies.
These interesting insects are not mentioned in trout fishing literature, but they turn up once in a while in my Eastern samples and I understand they are also common in the Midwest.
See 2 more specimens...