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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 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.
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.

Lateral view of a Female Eurylophella (Ephemerellidae) (Chocolate Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
I collected this uncooperative specimen as part of a small cloud of female spinners clustered tightly together high about 10 feet above the water, without any males that I could see.
Troutnut
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Troutnut on Jul 3, 2006July 3rd, 2006, 9:24 am EDT
I found her in a small cloud of females about ten feet above the water on June 21st. At the time I assumed she was an Isonychia bicolor spinner, because of the size, the stripe down the back, and the fact that she was flying near my favorite Isonychia pool at the right time of year. The hind wings are quite large, too.

But something just doesn't look right. The front legs should not be so light-colored, and the body proportions, while generally in the ballpark, just don't look quite right. I might even guess that this is some large Ephemerellid.

I apologize for the low quality of the pictures. They were taken at the worst time in my photography development: after my Canon 20D's sensor had accumulated significant dust, but before I learned how to clean it.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

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