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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 Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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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Troutnut
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Bellevue, WA

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Troutnut on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 7:08 am EST
Here's the next picture in the Name That Spot series, from the Catskills:



(Link to full-size)
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Junior
Posts: 1
Junior on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 7:56 am EST
Hi Jason,

Looks like below the fast water on powerline pool but just above the bend on the Willi with the Quickway up on the ridge in the background.

junior
Troutnut
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Troutnut on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 11:14 am EST
You got it!
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Wbranch
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York & Starlight PA

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Wbranch on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 12:19 pm EST
Good job Junior! I had my eyes glued to an Ebay auction I was following today and didn't get a chance to see that Jason was running the "Name that Spot" thread. That is the sectionof the Willow that I first fished back in 1970. I used to park my 1969 VW Campmobile under the power lines right up at the rivers edge and stay there all weekend.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Troutnut
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Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Feb 3, 2010February 3rd, 2010, 4:33 pm EST
Yeah, this is a pretty recognizable spot. I figured the angle and narrow field of view of this picture might make it a little bit trickier to guess, but you guys know that river too well!
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

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