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.

Turquoise view of Upper Titcomb Lake

From Titcomb Basin in Wyoming

Stream photos

Featured on the forum

Re: Trico emergers
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Bwoklink (Martinlf replied)

Re: Trico Tips
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Martinlf

Re: UV spectrum and trout
In General Discussion by Martinlf

Re: closing the gender gap in flyfishing
In General Discussion by Konchu (Smallflyguy replied)

Re: Fishing Kupa River, Slovenia
In Fishing Reports by Slocum (Fish1 replied)

Holocentropus Caddisfly Larva Holocentropus Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Holocentropus (Polycentropodidae) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

This one seems to tentatively key to Holocentropus, although I can't make out the anal spines in Couplet 7 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae nor the dark bands in Couplet 4 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, making me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in keying it out. I don't see where that could have happened, though. It might also be that it's a very immature larva and doesn't possess all the identifying characteristics in the key yet. If Holocentropus is correct, then Holocentropus flavus and Holocentropus interruptus are the two likely possibilities based on range, but I was not able to find a description of their larvae.

11 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.

Small BWO

Lastchance
Portage, PA

Posts: 437

Lastchance on Aug 30, 2010August 30th, 2010, 11:41 am EDT

Are these tiny BWOs that are coming off now and through the Fall a size 24? Also, can someone direct me to some photos of them? I saw one Saturday, which I thought was a Blue Quill Spinner, but now I think it was a BWO spinner. It had a dark thorax, a clear translucent body and another dark segment at the end.
Thanks,
Bruce

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on Aug 30, 2010August 30th, 2010, 12:48 pm EDT

Bruce,

The spinner you saw was probably a male. A #24 seems a little too small for most Blue Quills (Paraleptophlebia), though many of the males have the "Jenny Spinner" coloration that you describe. (Blue Quill spinners have three tails.) That coloration is also common to many male baetids (two-tailed BWOs, if you will). The females will usually have a (mostly) solid color body that will range from olive to brown to light orange. Here are some photos of a few baetids that show the "Jenny Spinner" coloration in the males:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/249088/bgimage
http://bugguide.net/node/view/249089/bgimage
http://bugguide.net/node/view/249110/bgimage

For contrast, here is the female of the first species:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/249090/bgimage

I hope that helps, at least a little.

Lastchance
Portage, PA

Posts: 437

Lastchance on Aug 30, 2010August 30th, 2010, 3:30 pm EDT

Hi Gonzo: That's exactly what I saw on Saturday. So the the onlyu difference between those BWOs and Blue Quill spinners is basically the number of tails? Like many others in my beginning years of bug watching I always mistook Blue Quills for Tricos.
Thanks,
Bruce