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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.

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.
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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Martinlf
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Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Feb 3, 2021February 3rd, 2021, 1:00 pm EST
I'm partial to the 10' length, but have not yet tried the 11' extension for my Drift rod. Most of the streams I fish are smaller than the San Juan, though. The extra foot may not sound like much, but it does make a difference between 9' and 10'. Ultimately these sort of things often come down to personal preference and what someone has gotten used to. Do you know someone with a 10' and an 11' rod that you might borrow for a bit to compare and see what you think?
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
Martinlf
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Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Feb 4, 2021February 4th, 2021, 2:12 am EST
A local shop may be able to let you handle and cast different rods. A guide may have different rods to try as well. Best of luck.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
Wbranch
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York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Feb 4, 2021February 4th, 2021, 2:43 am EST
Tangina20 wrote;

I feel like that isn’t too much different from my 9’ rod.


A 10' rod is 11% longer and quite a significant length gain when you are high sticking or tight lining. I typically used to steelhead fish with a 9' rod. When I went to a 10' #6 I found it was so much easier to roll cast and to perform upriver mends. I don't own any Euro nymph rods but if I did I would probably stick with nothing longer than 10' 6" or lighter than a #3 line.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

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