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 Skwala (Perlodidae) (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This Skwala nymph still has a couple months left to go before hatching, but it's still a good representative of its species, which was extremely abundant in my sample for a stonefly of this size. It's obvious why the Yakima is known for its Skwala hatch.
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.

Lastchance
Portage, PA

Posts: 437
Lastchance on Feb 18, 2008February 18th, 2008, 9:49 am EST
Can anyone recommend light and dark Cahill nymph patterns for Western PA. I'm kind of lost on these nymphs. Are they a brownish-olive color? I guess it depends on stream bottom coloration. I know they are part of the same family as the March Brown. Would they be tied in sizes 12 & 14 2x? Any help will be appreciated.
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Feb 18, 2008February 18th, 2008, 11:43 am EST
There are about a million mayfly species known as light or dark cahills, and there's quite a bit of variety in their nymphs. The more specific you can get about the exact hatches you want to match, the better -- rivers, time of year, size/color of adults, etc. Quite a few people here have enough local PA knowledge they might be able to help you, but just going by PA cahills isn't enough.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
JAD
JAD's profile picture
Alexandria Pa

Posts: 362
JAD on Feb 18, 2008February 18th, 2008, 11:56 am EST
Lastchance February 18th, 2008, 5:49 pm
Portage, PA

Posts: 4 Can anyone recommend light and dark Cahill nymph patterns for Western PA. I'm kind of lost on these nymphs. Are they a brownish-olive color? I guess it depends on stream bottom coloration. I know they are part of the same family as the March Brown. Would they be tied in sizes 12 & 14 2x? Any help will be appreciated.
Replies:

Portage PA

HI Lastchance
I fish the same general area your located. I tie mine like a PT with a cream thorax and a dark wing case. 14 or 16 should do it. Sometimes I do well on a emerger, same general pattern with antron (Deer hair) short wing.

John


They fasten red (crimson red) wool around a hook, and fix onto the wool two feathers which grow under a cock’s wattles, and which in colour are like wax.
Radcliffe's Fishing from the Earliest Times,

Quick Reply

Related Discussions

Topic
Replies
Last Reply
4
Nov 12, 2011
by Sayfu
1
Jun 27, 2010
by Oldredbarn
3
Mar 27, 2013
by JOHNW
5
Dec 13, 2008
by NSteel
7
Jun 27, 2012
by Konchu
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy