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.

Lone tree on a rock in the middle of Big Lake. Fittingly, Big Lake is the largest of several short wide spots in the upper Brule River.

From the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

Stream photos

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Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington

As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.

7 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.

Jim Morrison..."The West is the Best"

Oldredbarn has attached these 5 pictures. The message is below.

1995 Madison River 23.5" Brown. Eric Swedman & Spence

1995 Eric Shores with Spence's torpedo Brown...Who loves wild trout?!

Why do we all have one of these shots? Rod in mouth? This shot was for the Michigan Fly Fishing Club because the Loomis rod there I won at my first club meeting after I had paid my dues.

Madison River Bow 1995...Took a size 16 Bill Monahan version of a Partridge Caddis...What a healthy specimen!

Yellowstone Park Elk...I'm on the opposite bank of a skinny raging little creek and I could not get him to lift his head for the shot. I'm jumping up and down shouting etc and finally! I bet he's happy I'm a vegetarian!

Oldredbarn

Novi, MI

Posts: 2600

Oldredbarn on May 21, 2010May 21st, 2010, 2:22 am EDT

This is for Jesse and Matt...My contribution to the east/midwest vs Montana undercard...And in this corner...etc.

I have finally purchased a small Canon digital camera (Thanks Wiflyfisher!), but prior to now I had a Nikon F3 which, in comparrison is like carrying a frig around your neck...

Anyway, I'm heading up tomorrow to fish and I hope to play with my new camera a bit, when I'm not poking trout...

I am trying to add a couple pictures here from my trip out west in 1995. If this works there are two Eric's in the photos with me...Eric Swedman holding Mr Big. He's the manager of Madison River Fishing Co in Ennis...The other Eric holding that torpedo of a wild, healthy, Madison river Brown is Eric Shores and he guides out of MRFC.

I'm geeked about heading up and I'm trying to calm myself down a bit, but these photos aren't helping...

See you in a week or so!

Spence

PS How about those old Red Ball Lightweights! They were in style once for a minute...

"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

Jesse

Posts: 378

Jesse on Jun 12, 2010June 12th, 2010, 6:01 am EDT

Hahah Spence bud thats freaking awsome and those pictures just really help to distinguish the diversity in fishing eastern vs. western waters. The fish are beautiful, the scenery, the wildlife...its all just absolutely breathtaking. Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you buddy ive just been so busy getting back home, trying to make some money, and then figuring out plans for an already near future for going back to Montana. I haven't had that much time to get on and check things out, but it's always good to come back to some pictures like these ones. Your bug shots were great too so no need to be modest about it aha! Good day to you buddy ill be checking more often now!

Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com