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.

Stream photos

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Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Skwala (Perlodidae) (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

This Skwala nymph still has a couple months left to go before hatching, but it's still a good representative of its species, which was extremely abundant in my sample for a stonefly of this size. It's obvious why the Yakima is known for its Skwala hatch.

6 Recently Added Photos

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.

Updates from July 6, 2006

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Cayuta Creek in New York

Isoperla (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult

10 Pictures

Lateral view of a Isoperla (Perlodidae) (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult from Cayuta Creek in New York

Several stoneflies of this species were flying around a small stream last night. I tied on a brown drake imitation of about the right size/color to approximate these stones, and was rewarded with a hard-fighting 17-inch brown trout.

Collected July 6, 2006 from Cayuta Creek in New York

Added by Troutnut on July 8, 2006

Collected July 6, 2006 from Cayuta Creek in New York and added by Troutnut on July 8, 2006

Female Ephemera varia (Yellow Drake) Mayfly Spinner

6 Pictures

Lateral view of a Female Ephemera varia (Ephemeridae) (Yellow Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Cayuta Creek in New York

I found this female spinner ovipositing in a small stream. She came along while I was playing a trout -- every good bug seemed to do that last night! I didn't have my bug net, so I caught the trout in my landing net, released the trout, and caught the mayfly in my landing net. Her wing got a bit messed up from that.

Collected July 6, 2006 from Cayuta Creek in New York

Added by Troutnut on July 8, 2006

Collected July 6, 2006 from Cayuta Creek in New York and added by Troutnut on July 8, 2006