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 keys pretty easily to Onocosmoecus, and it closely resembles a specimen from Alaska which caddis expert Dave Ruiter recognized as this genus. As with that specimen, the only species in the genus documented in this area is Onocosmoecus unicolor, but Dave suggested for that specimen that there might be multiple not-yet-distinguished species under the unicolor umbrella and it would be best to stick with the genus-level ID. I'm doing the same for this one.
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Troutnut.com User Parsond (Daniel Parsdon)
Troutnut.com User Parsond (Daniel Parsdon)
Real Name
Daniel Parsdon
Location
Green River Wyoming
Homepage
Biography & Thoughts
Hello! My name is Daniel and I am a HS biology/anatomy teacher and debate coach during the school year, and a Fly Fishing guide for "Solitary Angler" in the summers. I am lucky to call Wyoming's Green, Hams Fork, Fontenelle and Smiths Fork rivers home. I also fool around on Lake Flaming Gorge some. My wife knows how to sling line too, and together we feel very lucky to be raising our kids here!
I grew up fishing the waters of Minnesota for the standard warm water species and played as often as I could on the North Shore of Superior with trout/salmon/steelies. I did my undergrad work in Iowa (where I chased fish on the Cedar River, hunted upland birds and waterfowl, and missed way to much class), did a 4-year stint teaching in Chicago and getting grad school done (fishing on park ponds and Lake Michigan saved my sanity). In the summers during this phase of life I spent 9 seasons guiding young fishermen in the Black Hills at a youth camp.
Wanting to be out west again and out of the city, I finally landed my current teaching position in Wyoming (more than 20 years ago now) where I float my beloved Green River south of Pinedale Wy as often as I can. I also hunt waterfowl & grouse (I'm a bird dog guy), elk, deer, and antelope (archery and rifle). I camp, backpack, and mountain bike too - but its all about getting into the backcountry to fish and hunt.
This is my 24th year of teaching and coaching debate. I deeply love what I do. Teaching is good for my heart. Debate is good for my mind. Fishing is good for my soul.
My wife and I have been married almost 5 years. She is my best friend. Together we have 4 kids; a 10-year old daughter, 2 17-year old boys, and a 20-year old daughter in college. Our house is full of life with all the kids and pets and activities.
It is a good life. Better than I deserve, more than I hoped for, and one I do not take for granted.
I grew up fishing the waters of Minnesota for the standard warm water species and played as often as I could on the North Shore of Superior with trout/salmon/steelies. I did my undergrad work in Iowa (where I chased fish on the Cedar River, hunted upland birds and waterfowl, and missed way to much class), did a 4-year stint teaching in Chicago and getting grad school done (fishing on park ponds and Lake Michigan saved my sanity). In the summers during this phase of life I spent 9 seasons guiding young fishermen in the Black Hills at a youth camp.
Wanting to be out west again and out of the city, I finally landed my current teaching position in Wyoming (more than 20 years ago now) where I float my beloved Green River south of Pinedale Wy as often as I can. I also hunt waterfowl & grouse (I'm a bird dog guy), elk, deer, and antelope (archery and rifle). I camp, backpack, and mountain bike too - but its all about getting into the backcountry to fish and hunt.
This is my 24th year of teaching and coaching debate. I deeply love what I do. Teaching is good for my heart. Debate is good for my mind. Fishing is good for my soul.
My wife and I have been married almost 5 years. She is my best friend. Together we have 4 kids; a 10-year old daughter, 2 17-year old boys, and a 20-year old daughter in college. Our house is full of life with all the kids and pets and activities.
It is a good life. Better than I deserve, more than I hoped for, and one I do not take for granted.