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.

The "Fountain Flats" stretch of the Firehole was fishable in the morning after an uncharacteristically cold August night.

From the Firehole River in Wyoming

Stream photos

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Clostoeca disjuncta (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva Clostoeca disjuncta (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva

Lateral view of a Clostoeca disjuncta (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

This one was surprisingly straightforward to identify. The lack of a sclerite at the base of the lateral hump narrows the field quite a bit, and the other options followed fairly obvious characteristics to Clostoeca, which only has one species, Clostoeca disjuncta.

11 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 June 24, 2008

Closeup insects by Bnewell from Yellow Bay Creek and Denali National Park in Montana and Alaska

Female Ironodes nitidus (Slate Maroon Drake) Mayfly Spinner

3 Pictures

Female Ironodes nitidus (Heptageniidae) (Slate Maroon Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Yellow Bay Creek in Montana

While relatively rare in most of western Montana, it is common in several small streams along the east side of Flathead Lake and streams on the south side of the Flathead Indian Reservation.

Collected June 24, 2008 from Yellow Bay Creek in Montana

Added by Bnewell on June 28, 2011

Collected June 24, 2008 from Yellow Bay Creek in Montana and added by Bnewell on June 28, 2011

Limnephilus externus (Summer Flier Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

1 Picture

Limnephilus externus (Limnephilidae) (Summer Flier Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Temporary ponds- Glacier Nat. Park in Alaska

This caddis is one of the most abundant caddisflies in temporary ponds of Glacier Park. The larvae build a round case of detritus and dead plant material that can get quite large.

Collected June 24, 2008 from Temporary ponds- Glacier Nat. Park in Alaska

Added by Bnewell on June 26, 2011

Collected June 24, 2008 from Temporary ponds- Glacier Nat. Park in Alaska and added by Bnewell on June 26, 2011