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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.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
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.
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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Bobbyg
North Carolina

Posts: 36
Bobbyg on May 17, 2010May 17th, 2010, 3:07 am EDT


Sorry! When I posted my softhackle sulphur post I did not see the "add picture option", only the "submit message" block.

I must not be doing something correctly?
"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after."

- Henry David Thoreau
Softhackle
Softhackle's profile picture
Wellsville, NY

Posts: 540
Softhackle on May 17, 2010May 17th, 2010, 4:42 am EDT
The fly looks great! What hook are you using?

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
Martinlf
Martinlf's profile picture
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on May 17, 2010May 17th, 2010, 6:08 am EDT
I'll second that question. And great looking fly!!
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
Bobbyg
North Carolina

Posts: 36
Bobbyg on May 17, 2010May 17th, 2010, 7:02 am EDT
Well, I guess you guys can see the photobucket pic?
I'm unable to see it!!

I'm not a fly tyer only an obsessed fly angler but thank you for the kind words!

The hook is a Grip #14723BL. I believe it was specifically designed for emerger patterns? I also believe that Daiichi makes a hook so similar it is almost impossible to tell the difference. It's a #1250

Mark, your flies are excellent in every detail! I particularly like the Li'l Dorothy and the Tups! Thank you for putting them up.
Do you think they would be as effective with the Grip or Daiichi emerger hook?
"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after."

- Henry David Thoreau
Softhackle
Softhackle's profile picture
Wellsville, NY

Posts: 540
Softhackle on May 17, 2010May 17th, 2010, 9:10 am EDT
Grip Tups

Click on the link. You tell me! I've heard some complaints about the these Grip hooks that the wire is too soft. There are other hooks of similar shape. Daiichi 1150 I think. The wire is a bit heavier.

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
Bobbyg
North Carolina

Posts: 36
Bobbyg on May 17, 2010May 17th, 2010, 9:54 am EDT
I surely don't feel they would be any less effective. Looks good!
More natural looking to me.

My guy uses the Daiichi 1250, of which I posted above.
"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after."

- Henry David Thoreau
JAD
JAD's profile picture
Alexandria Pa

Posts: 362
JAD on May 17, 2010May 17th, 2010, 10:17 am EDT
I'm not getting a pic ?

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,
Softhackle
Softhackle's profile picture
Wellsville, NY

Posts: 540
Softhackle on May 17, 2010May 17th, 2010, 3:39 pm EDT
Sulfur Emerger

Try the link, JAD.

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
Gutcutter
Gutcutter's profile picture
Pennsylvania

Posts: 470
Gutcutter on May 25, 2010May 25th, 2010, 1:31 am EDT
mark
check out the tiemco 206BL hook. although not exactly the same hook, it is similar and i can attest to it's strength. awesome fly. beautiful.
but the brown trout print is even more beautiful. got mine in the mail yesterday. being framed this week. thanks
tony
All men who fish may in turn be divided into two parts: those who fish for trout and those who don't. Trout fishermen are a race apart: they are a dedicated crew- indolent, improvident, and quietly mad.

-Robert Traver, Trout Madness
Softhackle
Softhackle's profile picture
Wellsville, NY

Posts: 540
Softhackle on May 25, 2010May 25th, 2010, 2:50 am EDT
First, an explanation. The Sulfur Emerger photo is Bobbyg's. People were having problems seeing it, so I simply posted a link to it so people could. It is a very nice looking fly. Reminds me of one tied by Allen McGee.

Tony,
Glad you like the print. I guess it arrived in good condition.

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

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