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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Neoleptophlebia Mayfly Nymph Neoleptophlebia Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.

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.

Midge Video

This topic is about the True Fly Family Chironomidae

Midges are the most important aquatic insects in some places, especially fertile spring creeks where they are extremely abundant and the current is so slow that it's efficient for trout to surface feed on very tiny insects.

Some midges are large, up to hook size 14, but the majority are size 22 or smaller. The number of genera and species is hopelessly huge for angler entomologists to ever learn, and the identifing characteristics often require slide-mounting tiny parts under high-powered microscopes. Even the most Latin-minded fisherman must slip back to the basics--size and color--to describe his local midge hatches.

Example specimens

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Chironomidae (Midge) True Fly Larva

Dorsal view of a Chironomidae (Midge) True Fly Larva from the South Fork Snoqualmie River in Washington

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Chironomidae (Midge) True Fly Larva

Lateral view of a Chironomidae (Midge) True Fly Larva from the South Fork Snoqualmie River in Washington

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Chironomidae (Midge) True Fly Adult

Lateral view of a Chironomidae (Midge) True Fly Adult from the South Fork Snoqualmie River in Washington

This extremely tiny fly was puzzling to identify. I collected it from a sparse mating swarm just above the surface of the river. It just doesn't have the "look" I'm used to seeing in Chironomids, but the key characteristics in Merritt, Cummins, & Berg point that way. -Maxillary palp apparently with 4 segments, antenna with 6 -I can't see any ocelli and wing venation doesn't seem to match Axymyiidae -Costa definitely ends at or near apex of the wing (pictured) -Obvious characteristics and wing venation rule out a few other things -Simuliidae seems like a possibility due to the broad wings, but bugguide says they're supposed to have more antennal segments (eleven, though a different source says some have ten, at least in the Southern Hemisphere). -Postnotum with median longitudinal groove (pictured) rules out Ceratopogonidae So my guess is some kind of chironomid from a genus that doesn't have the classic midge look. There are some like that.

JAD

Alexandria Pa

Posts: 362

JAD on Mar 4, 2010March 4th, 2010, 6:06 am EST

I thing some members will like this video on midges.
http://www.midcurrent.com/video/clips/cutter_midge.aspx

Best

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,

Falsifly

Hayward, WI.

Posts: 660

Falsifly on Mar 4, 2010March 4th, 2010, 6:14 am EST

Thanks John

Falsifly
When asked what I just caught that monster on I showed him. He put on his magnifiers and said, "I can't believe they can see that."

Falsifly

Hayward, WI.

Posts: 660

Falsifly on Mar 4, 2010March 4th, 2010, 6:56 am EST

John , since you brought up my favorite topic I thought I would add this for those who may have missed it.

http://www.troutnut.com/topic/1827

Falsifly
When asked what I just caught that monster on I showed him. He put on his magnifiers and said, "I can't believe they can see that."

Oldredbarn

Novi, MI

Posts: 2600

Oldredbarn on Mar 4, 2010March 4th, 2010, 7:32 am EST

John,

Thanks for bringing the vid to our attention. April 1st near here they stock a small pond and it's only real food is midges...It's the only time I really get to stillwater fish for trout...It's less than a month away!

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

Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197

Shawnny3 on Mar 4, 2010March 4th, 2010, 8:58 am EST

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

-Shawn

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

Martinlf