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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.

Lateral view of a Male Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #308 in Washington
This dun emerged from a mature nymph on my desk. Unfortunately its wings didn't perfectly dry out.
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.

Giant Sedges

This common name refers to only one family. Click its scientific name to learn more.

Caddisfly Family Limnephilidae

These are very rarely called Giant Sedges.
This huge family appropriately contains huge caddisflies. Many of its genera are important, but the western genus Dicosmoecus (the Giant Orange Sedge or October Caddis) is especially important as a big-trout hatch.

Limnephilidae contains so many species that it is difficult to generalize about them all. LaFontaine commented on the task in Caddisflies:

The fact that fly fishermen need broad principles of biology, not a collection of exceptions, makes it difficult to handle this family.

I recommend learning which genera or species are prevalent in your area and studying them specifically.
Female Dicosmoecus atripes (Limnephilidae) (October Caddis) Caddisfly Adult from the St. Joe River in Idaho
This specimen is 26 mm.
- Entoman
Dorsal view of a Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin

References

  • LaFontaine, Gary. 1981. Caddisflies. The Lyons Press.

Giant Sedges

Scientific Name
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