Header image
Enter a name
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.

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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.

Sweltsa (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph Pictures

This species was fairly abundant in a February sample of the upper Yakima.

Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Ventral view of a Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Ruler view of a Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.
Dorsal view of a Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Colors artificially enhanced to show the pattern of setae on the tails.

Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

This stonefly was collected from the Yakima River in Washington on February 18th, 2023 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on February 21st, 2023.


Start a Discussion of Nymph

Sweltsa (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph Pictures

Collection details
Location: Yakima River, Washington
Date: February 18th, 2023
Added to site: February 21st, 2023
Author: Troutnut
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy