Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.
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It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.
I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.
The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.
Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.
The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.
Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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JAD on Nov 26, 2008November 26th, 2008, 1:53 am EST
I thought I would share. Also see if it will work.
John
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,
Chris_3g
Posts: 59
Posts: 59
Chris_3g on Nov 26, 2008November 26th, 2008, 5:45 am EST
That is a beautiful photograph John!
Troutnut on Nov 26, 2008November 26th, 2008, 2:49 pm EST
Ha! You call that cold outside!? ;)
Here's cold outside!
That said, you've got an outstanding stream picture there. I wish I'd taken it!
Here's cold outside!
That said, you've got an outstanding stream picture there. I wish I'd taken it!
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Martinlf on Nov 30, 2008November 30th, 2008, 2:13 pm EST
Great pic, John, and I think I know just where this is.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
JAD on Dec 1, 2008December 1st, 2008, 11:43 am EST
I'll bet you do to, their is one more pic but I don't know how to post after the first post.???
JAD
JAD
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,
JAD on Dec 3, 2008December 3rd, 2008, 2:20 am EST
Hi everyone.
I have another picture of The little j or should I say a log----well I'll tell you the story.
While walking along the banks of Little J, I saw a squirrel run down a log that was partially submerged in the water. It picked up an acorn that was mysteriously right at he bottom of the log where it entered the water. It picked up the acorn and just sat there, trying to figure out how to get it into its mouth, when, all of a sudden a huge tail fin came out of the water and swatted the squirrel off the log and into the water. The squirrel dropped the acorn and tried to swim back to the log, but a huge hooked jaw came out of the water and swallowed the squirrel in one gulp and disappeared. I stood there in amazement and disbelief and stared at the water for a few minutes. Then, after everything calmed down and there was no other sound, I saw a large fin come out of the water and put another acorn on the bottom of the log!!! Happy holidays everyone.
Thanks for making the winter shorter.
John D
I have another picture of The little j or should I say a log----well I'll tell you the story.
While walking along the banks of Little J, I saw a squirrel run down a log that was partially submerged in the water. It picked up an acorn that was mysteriously right at he bottom of the log where it entered the water. It picked up the acorn and just sat there, trying to figure out how to get it into its mouth, when, all of a sudden a huge tail fin came out of the water and swatted the squirrel off the log and into the water. The squirrel dropped the acorn and tried to swim back to the log, but a huge hooked jaw came out of the water and swallowed the squirrel in one gulp and disappeared. I stood there in amazement and disbelief and stared at the water for a few minutes. Then, after everything calmed down and there was no other sound, I saw a large fin come out of the water and put another acorn on the bottom of the log!!! Happy holidays everyone.
Thanks for making the winter shorter.
John D
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,
Taxon on Dec 3, 2008December 3rd, 2008, 6:15 am EST
Hi John-
Well done. I can usually see one coming from a mile away, but this time, I was totally unprepared for your punch line.
Cheers,
Well done. I can usually see one coming from a mile away, but this time, I was totally unprepared for your punch line.
Cheers,
JAD on Dec 3, 2008December 3rd, 2008, 8:59 am EST
Don"t feel bad, I took just like it was one of Lloyds flies.
Cats out of the bag now:)
John
Cats out of the bag now:)
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,
GONZO on Dec 3, 2008December 3rd, 2008, 9:42 am EST
:) :) Ditto what Roger said, John. I rose right into the hookset. Happy holidays, pal.
Martinlf on Dec 4, 2008December 4th, 2008, 5:05 am EST
Great story, John. I was already trying to figure out where the log was, and thinking about going after that monster when I got to the final turn. I had the fly in my mouth and was headed for the bottom--and what fun. Happy Holidays, my friend.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
MrRogers on Feb 6, 2009February 6th, 2009, 4:44 am EST
amazing pictures! and troutnut- I don't know how you do it. I complain when its in the 20s
Martinlf on Jun 12, 2009June 12th, 2009, 2:27 am EDT
OK the true story of the squirrel and the log is in the middle of this thread, and well worth scrolling down from the top. The story starts:
Hi everyone.
I have another picture of The little j . . .
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Softhackle on Jun 12, 2009June 12th, 2009, 2:29 am EDT
Beautiful photo of a great looking spot. Well done!
Mark
Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty." Edward R. Hewitt
Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
Martinlf on Jun 12, 2009June 12th, 2009, 2:31 am EDT
Yes, Mark, and John's story is even more interesting. See above.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Softhackle on Jun 12, 2009June 12th, 2009, 4:28 am EDT
God, I missed that one. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Louis. I guess I would have put on a Squirrel Hair nymph and given that fish a try.
Mark
Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty." Edward R. Hewitt
Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
Ludvig1 on Jun 20, 2009June 20th, 2009, 2:29 am EDT
All I can say is wow to the beauty of the first picture and wow to how cold it is in the 2nd.
Martinlf on Jun 21, 2012June 21st, 2012, 8:18 pm EDT
Jonathon, your bat story reminded me of John's squirrel story. it's about the 6th post down from the photo, and some of the newcomers may have missed it.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Oldredbarn on Jun 22, 2012June 22nd, 2012, 7:06 am EDT
Funny story Louis via John...I laughed out loud...Thanks for pulling this one back up...A nice start to the weekend.
Spence
Spence
"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
PaulRoberts on Jun 22, 2012June 22nd, 2012, 7:37 am EDT
Hah! Love it. Wonderful photo too. We are lucky folks, aren't we.
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