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.

Stream photos

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Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

This specimen resembled several others of around the same size and perhaps the same species, which were pretty common in my February sample from the upper Yakima. Unfortunately, I misplaced the specimen before I could get it under a microscope for a definitive ID.

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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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Help with ID

Calloway has attached this picture to aid in identification. The message is below.

Calloway
Asheville, NC

Posts: 5

Calloway on Jul 9, 2008July 9th, 2008, 7:32 am EDT

Got some guys wanting to say the following is a Hex Limbata. I'm not sure what it is but a little light in color for the Hex's I am familar with. Would like to say golden Drake but only two tails.

Thanks

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Jul 9, 2008July 9th, 2008, 9:28 am EDT

Keith,

This is Hexagenia limbata. That species displays tremendous variation in appearance over its transcontinental range. Sometimes the observed differences are due to this variation, sometimes they are due to the difference in coloration between male and female, and sometimes they are attributable to capturing the insect at various stages of darkening following a molt. Teneral (freshly emerged) insects will be much paler and will have less distinct markings than those that have had time to age and darken. This is true of nymphs, duns, and spinners. Your mayfly is a female imago (spinner) that has yet to express her egg packets.

Wiflyfisher