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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 Amphizoa (Amphizoidae) Beetle Larva from Sears Creek in Washington
This is the first of it's family I've seen, collected from a tiny, fishless stream in the Cascades. The three species of this genus all live in the Northwest and are predators that primarily eat stonefly nymphs Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019).
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.

Shakeyfly has attached this picture to aid in identification. The message is below.
Shakeyfly
Massachusetts

Posts: 11
Shakeyfly on Jun 2, 2010June 2nd, 2010, 7:41 am EDT
Hello!

I was hoping that someone could help identify this bug for me. I really need to learn this stuff! The knowledge here is incredible!
The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad - A.K. Best

Catching fish is as incidental to fishing as making babies is to #$%&ing. ~William Humphrey

Here's to swimmin' with bow legged women. - Jaws
GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681
GONZO on Jun 2, 2010June 2nd, 2010, 9:00 am EDT
Ryan,

Your mayfly is an unusually dark male Stenacron spinner (Heptageniidae). The primary tip-off to its identity is the dark mark connecting cross veins in the forward portion of the forewing. This is one of the many genera/species sometimes called Light Cahills by fly fishers. The female spinners are sometimes called Salmon Spinners because of the bright pinkish-orange color of their abdomens (caused by underlying egg masses).
Vinlflyfish
Vinlflyfish's profile picture
northern cambria

Posts: 42
Vinlflyfish on Jun 5, 2010June 5th, 2010, 2:04 pm EDT
i need to get better with identifying flies all i do is look at the natural flies and create on like it do u no any sites with a guide to the flies

im only 14 so i dont worrie about that i started tieing flies 3 years ago and started fly fishing 2 years ago i woud use a bobber with my flies
on a altra lite rod
trout; a mans best friend
Oldredbarn
Oldredbarn's profile picture
Novi, MI

Posts: 2600
Oldredbarn on Jun 5, 2010June 5th, 2010, 2:33 pm EDT
[do u no any sites with a guide to the flies]

Your on it big fella...Just go and check out the insect section and Jason's wonderful photos of bugs...If only we had photo's like these when we started years ago...They blow the color plate section of Justin Leonards "Mayflies of Michigan Trout Streams" to shreads, but they were wonderful pre the new technology.

Spence

Once you check them out and have some serious questions just ask Gonzo or Taxon and they will explain it all to you...

"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
GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681
GONZO on Jun 5, 2010June 5th, 2010, 2:37 pm EDT
Hey Vinnie, I think I've seen your flies on Hacklehead.com. Keep up the good work, pal!

This site is great for those wanting to learn more about the flies that trout eat, although I'll admit that the "stuff" does pile up pretty deep at times--usually my fault. Roger (Taxon) has a great "intro" section on his website that might help (click on the "The Basics" when the homepage comes up):
http://www.flyfishingentomology.com/
And here are two hatch guides for PA that might (or might not) also help:
http://www.skyblueoutfitters.com/Fly_tying.html
http://www.djlflyfishers.org/hatches.htm


Vinlflyfish
Vinlflyfish's profile picture
northern cambria

Posts: 42
Vinlflyfish on Jun 5, 2010June 5th, 2010, 2:47 pm EDT
thanks mr.g

thanks alot those will realy help this year ill print them out thanks alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
trout; a mans best friend
GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681
GONZO on Jun 5, 2010June 5th, 2010, 2:50 pm EDT
My pleasure, Vinnie. Don't try to learn everything at once. It's more fun when you take your time. Best wishes and good luck.
Vinlflyfish
Vinlflyfish's profile picture
northern cambria

Posts: 42
Vinlflyfish on Jun 5, 2010June 5th, 2010, 2:54 pm EDT
thank u
wheres bear camp
trout; a mans best friend
Vinlflyfish
Vinlflyfish's profile picture
northern cambria

Posts: 42
Vinlflyfish on Jun 5, 2010June 5th, 2010, 2:56 pm EDT
i have some flies on there
trout; a mans best friend
Vinlflyfish
Vinlflyfish's profile picture
northern cambria

Posts: 42
Vinlflyfish on Jun 5, 2010June 5th, 2010, 2:59 pm EDT
gonzo

what is a water boatman
trout; a mans best friend
Vinlflyfish
Vinlflyfish's profile picture
northern cambria

Posts: 42
Vinlflyfish on Jun 5, 2010June 5th, 2010, 3:05 pm EDT
wheres bear camp this summer im going up to sinimahoning to fish the Susquehanna and other rives and ykoff
trout; a mans best friend
Shakeyfly
Massachusetts

Posts: 11
Shakeyfly on Jun 7, 2010June 7th, 2010, 2:14 am EDT
Thank you so much for the responses and for the links to the fly fishing entomology.

So a Dark light cahill it is! lol
The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad - A.K. Best

Catching fish is as incidental to fishing as making babies is to #$%&ing. ~William Humphrey

Here's to swimmin' with bow legged women. - Jaws

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