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 an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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Troutnut.com User Reify (Dave Reifsnyder)
Troutnut.com User Reify (Dave Reifsnyder)
Real Name
Dave Reifsnyder
Location
Easton, Pennsylvania
Biography & Thoughts
I am a long-time fly-fisherman on local streams - Little Buskill, McMicheal, Martins, Brodhead, Lehigh, Big Bushkill, Pohopoco, Tobyhanna, upper Delaware. Not a trout bum, however, but would be given a second chance. Wrote "All Fishermen Are Liars...Believe It!" (stories and rantings from one of fishing's lesser-knowns); published it in 2006 and it's getting out there slowly but surely; reviewed by "The Fly-fishing Professor" (Johnny McJunkins at Texarkana College); I'm a retired Pharmaceutical Microbiologist and am hoping to spend more time fly-fishing and learning - always learning. Will be reading and writing more as time allows. I am looking forward to interacting with your forum members - my early readings of a few of the posts show some interesting ideas, philosophies and very decent writing style - nice!
I am, of course an avid catch and release person and would love to stop most stocking, change the kill limits to three trout per day for April and May only, after that two per day over 14 inches - and give back the fly-fishing only stretch on the Little Bushkill - it's being poached into oblivion.
I am, of course an avid catch and release person and would love to stop most stocking, change the kill limits to three trout per day for April and May only, after that two per day over 14 inches - and give back the fly-fishing only stretch on the Little Bushkill - it's being poached into oblivion.