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 is the first of it's family I've seen, collected from a tiny, fishless stream in the Cascades. The three species of this genus all live in the Northwest and are predators that primarily eat stonefly nymphs Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019).
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Caddisfly Genus Mystacides (Black Dancers)
Where & when
This genus is represented across the continent, but the Western species Mystacides alafimbriata is probably the most prominent.In 111 records from GBIF, adults of this genus have mostly been collected during June (27%), August (25%), July (24%), May (14%), and September (7%).
In 35 records from GBIF, this genus has been collected at elevations ranging from 3 to 3873 ft, with an average (median) of 1181 ft.
Genus Range
Egg-Laying behavior
Time of day: Dusk
Larva & pupa biology
Shelter type: Long, thin cases made of various debris. The case may be three times as long as the actual insect.
Specimens of the Caddisfly Genus Mystacides
3 Adults
I captured this small caddisfly from one of many dense mating swarms under overhanging alder trees in a slow stretch of the river. There were localized rises of trout under the swarms.
2 Male Adults
This was one of many of its species which were gathered in small, low-flying swarms of about a dozen insects near the alder trees in the afternoon on a small stream.
Discussions of Mystacides
Does anyone have success fishing this hatch?
9 replies
Posted by Troutnut on Sep 24, 2006
Last reply on Jan 14, 2011 by PaulRoberts
I've been extremely frustrated several times by trout feeding on Black Dancers, especially on the Brule in Wisconsin. The flies gather in little swarms beneath overhanging alders along the bank, usually within a foot or two of the surface, and "dance" around. A trout or two, usually small, will appear below them and rise steadily.
This is one of the most reliable insect activities on that river in the summer. It's quite unlike any other hatch, since it never affects most of the stream. Instead, there are just little pockets of activity here and there along the bank. It would be interesting to see if some of the trout are Mystacides "specialists" who are conditioned to cruise the banks looking for this food source.
At any rate, I've never had much luck catching these trout. I've tried most often on the Brule but I've run across similar situations on Finger Lakes and Catskill rivers in New York, too. Has anyone cracked the code?
This is one of the most reliable insect activities on that river in the summer. It's quite unlike any other hatch, since it never affects most of the stream. Instead, there are just little pockets of activity here and there along the bank. It would be interesting to see if some of the trout are Mystacides "specialists" who are conditioned to cruise the banks looking for this food source.
At any rate, I've never had much luck catching these trout. I've tried most often on the Brule but I've run across similar situations on Finger Lakes and Catskill rivers in New York, too. Has anyone cracked the code?
Start a Discussion of Mystacides
References
- LaFontaine, Gary. 1981. Caddisflies. The Lyons Press.
- Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. 2019. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America (Fifth Edition). Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
- Swisher, Doug and Carl Richards. 2000. Selective Trout. The Lyons Press.
