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.

Of all the pools I've fished, this one was most deserving of the colorful little brook trout it held.

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York

Stream photos

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Sweltsa (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph Sweltsa (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

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

10 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.

Defensive posture

Pteronarcys dorsata (Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph

3 Pictures

Dorsal view of a Pteronarcys dorsata (Pteronarcyidae) (Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

Pteronarcys nymphs live for two years before maturing. This small one is in its first year.

Collected March 9, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on January 19, 2006

Collected March 9, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on January 19, 2006

Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197

Shawnny3 on Jun 29, 2008June 29th, 2008, 12:33 pm EDT

Is Pteronarcys the one that curls into a fetal position when disturbed? I don't see any pictures like that in this section, but I'm pretty sure a stone I saw do that today was one of these.

-Shawn

Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Jun 29, 2008June 29th, 2008, 1:58 pm EDT

Hi Shawn,

Yes. A few other stoneflies will do that as well, but it is so characteristic of Pteronarcys that they are sometimes called "curlers."