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.

We were lucky to be able to fish through this storm as it skirted around us to the north, giving us just enough clouds to prompt a BWO hatch but keeping the lighting at a safe distance.

From Slough Creek in Wyoming

Stream photos

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Ephemerella mucronata Mayfly Nymph Ephemerella mucronata Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

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.

17 Recently Added Photos

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.

Briefly exploring steelhead streams

By Troutnut on January 22nd, 2021

I've lived in Washington for three years and not yet caught a steelhead, or even really tried, in the famed rivers of the Olympic Peninsula. My wife and I had a brief window to get away for about a day and a half and did some exploring over there this week. However, with the short days, beach time, and rambunctious new puppy, I didn't get much serious fishing done. I fished some promising water on the Hoh for about an hour, seeing no fish but talking to others who had, and I spent all of about ten minutes swinging a fly through a run on the Sol Duc. I'd love to get back there for a few days of serious fishing when time allows.

Photos by Troutnut from the Hoh River and the Sol Duc River in Washington

Sol Duc River

From the Sol Duc River in Washington

Hoh River

From the Hoh River in Washington

Comments / replies

Wbranch

York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635

Wbranch on Jan 24, 2021January 24th, 2021, 10:39 am EST

Jason, beautiful photos and gorgeous pools. I'd not fish that first one, it looks like a maelstrom! The 2nd is nice but it looks like log debris at the head. The 3rd is lovely for me as a lefty and the thin water near shore where I could stand with the switch rod and swing. I hope you get a chance to go back. Going to Montana this summer?

Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

Troutnut

Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758

Troutnut on Jan 24, 2021January 24th, 2021, 1:14 pm EST

My summer plans are pretty uncertain. I definitely want to get back to Montana. Also pretty high on my to-do list are catching a golden trout in its native range, pursuing some really big golden trout in the Winds, and visiting family back in Wisconsin and fishing my old haunts there. I'm being very careful about Covid and travel, so it's hard to predict the summer.

Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

Wbranch

York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635

Wbranch on Jan 24, 2021January 24th, 2021, 1:50 pm EST

Jason,

I'm being very careful about Covid and travel

So am I. The incidence rate of infection and the death rate in the county where I live in PA has been on the rise. I only go out to go to the supermarket or to the PO to get our mail. I don't speak to anyone and keep wipes in my car so I can clean my hands after shopping.

I'm scheduled to get my first vaccine shot in two weeks. I've booked my trip and but have bought trip insurance just in case Montana re-instates the two week shelter in place edict they had in effect until early June 2020.

Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

Pdcox
Kansas city

Posts: 12

Pdcox on Jan 26, 2021January 26th, 2021, 2:12 am EST

Great photos bring back great memories. My buddy and I camped at Mora Campground in September 2019 and fished the Hoh and Quillayute rivers. No steelhead but plenty of sea run cutthrouat on dry flies. Pink lady if I remember correctly. Would love to return.