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.

Cedar sweepers line the fertile spring creek headwaters of a famous trout stream.

From the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

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.

First time out this year

Partsman has attached these 3 pictures to this report. The message is below.

Report at a Glance

General Region	Northern michigan
Dates Fished	March 3
Fish Caught	Brown trout
Conditions & Hatches	Streamers

Details and Discussion

Partsman

bancroft michigan

Posts: 321

Partsman on Mar 6, 2021March 6th, 2021, 6:46 am EST

Well winter may be on the way out here in Michigan, and I haven’t fished since early December. So, with temps projected to be in the 40,s and some sun, I went north on Wednesday. Fished my favorite river, water was low with a little runoff stain. Temps were 17 degrees when I started and got up to maybe the low 40’s. I fished streamers all day, but around noon I tied on a sparkle minnow pattern in black and caught 3 fish within a half hour. It ended up being a 4 mile hike as my 2 wheel drive equinox sucks in any cold water conditions and I got stuck pretty good last time so I walk now. I had a great time and I’m looking forward to better times every week.

Wbranch

York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635

Wbranch on Mar 6, 2021March 6th, 2021, 9:25 am EST

Awesome! Good for you. I've not fished since my last smallmouth trip on November 13. I've learned steelhead are on the move where I normally fish and I'll probably be going up three days next week. That brown looks pretty thick considering it has endured along winter.

Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

Red_green_h

New Mexico

Posts: 64

Red_green_h on Mar 6, 2021March 6th, 2021, 10:18 am EST

Color me jealous. Hoping to get out to my favorite spot in the next couple weeks. Browns won't be that big though.

Roguerat

Posts: 456

Roguerat on Mar 7, 2021March 7th, 2021, 7:58 am EST

Mike,

NICE water and NICE Brown, thanks for sharing this! I'd ask what stream but know better...although I did 'borrow' the first pic for my computer's desktop image.

The streambed looks fairly wadeable, any rocksnot to speak of?

Anyway, this got my spring fever in high gear and I'm checking local flows...temps in the high 50's this coming week, maybe- just maybe- get out and wet a line.

Roguerat

'Less is more...'

Ludwig Mies Vande Rohe

Martinlf

Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047

Martinlf on Mar 7, 2021March 7th, 2021, 9:08 am EST

Nice work! Thanks for sharing.

"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

Jmd123

Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474

Jmd123 on Mar 8, 2021March 8th, 2021, 6:39 am EST

DANG, Mike, you been out already??? Well done, big beefy brown you got there! Kudos to you for getting out in these cold temps. We've had sooooo much wind lately I sure haven't felt like doing much out-of-doors this winter, not to mention the Polar Vortex...

Nice job & thanks for the inspiration!

Jonathon

No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...