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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.

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.
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Female Skwala curvata (Large Springfly) Stonefly Adult Pictures

This female dropped her eggs just before this photo was snapped. The distinctive notch in the subgenital plate identifies the species. An interesting observation is how active they get when exposed to direct sunlight. Trying to stage this specimen was most difficult. In the shade it would calm right down, but when exposed to direct sun it would immediately go nuts, scampering all over quickly without pause. Perhaps this explains why they don't seem to be found out and about on overcast days, but if the sun peeks out... She was 24 mm long, head to wingtip.

This stonefly was collected from the Lower Yuba River in California on March 22nd, 2013 and added to Troutnut.com by Entoman on March 27th, 2013.


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Female Skwala curvata (Large Springfly) Stonefly Adult Pictures

Collection details
Location: Lower Yuba River, California
Date: March 22nd, 2013
Added to site: March 27th, 2013
Author: Entoman
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