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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 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.
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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Report at a Glance

General RegionIowa
Specific LocationMcleod run
Dates Fished12-31-10
Time of Day4:30 pm
Fish Caught16" Rainbow

Details and Discussion

Benjlan
Benjlan's profile picture
Cedar Rapids lowa

Posts: 54
Benjlan on Jan 6, 2011January 6th, 2011, 2:51 pm EST
Got this big boy on a flashback pheasant tail bead head #16ish. The very next cast was a 8" brookie


Benjlan
Benjlan's profile picture
Cedar Rapids lowa

Posts: 54
Benjlan on Jan 6, 2011January 6th, 2011, 3:01 pm EST
Sorry can't get the photo to attach.
Jmd123
Jmd123's profile picture
Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on Jan 6, 2011January 6th, 2011, 3:03 pm EST
Keep trying man, we want to see it!!

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Benjlan
Benjlan's profile picture
Cedar Rapids lowa

Posts: 54
Benjlan on Jan 13, 2011January 13th, 2011, 1:07 am EST
Thanks for all the help everyone
Rckymtn_fsh
Rckymtn_fsh's profile picture
Divide, CO

Posts: 12
Rckymtn_fsh on Jan 16, 2011January 16th, 2011, 5:32 am EST
Very nice!! Congrats!
"These brook trout will strike any fly you present, provided you don't get close enough to present it."
-- Dick Blalock

Jmd123
Jmd123's profile picture
Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on Jan 19, 2011January 19th, 2011, 9:13 am EST
Yup, that's a "purdy" one there, Ben!

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...

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