Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.
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This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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Pryal74 on Feb 7, 2011February 7th, 2011, 12:02 pm EST
The Mainistique River is STILL producing top notch fishing for Lake Michigan Steelhead. I fished with Chris G. today and it was outstanding! We landed 4 beautiful fish. Estaz Eggs and streamers brought hits on a gorgeous February sunday. I landed a 3+ pound hen on a bright pink Estaz Egg and a big Steelie broke my ten pound liter when he took off with my bright green and white streamer. Chris was slaying them in an upstream pool, he landed 3 fish; a nice looking 3 pound male and a couple skippers. He also hooked numerous other fish! What a day!! Pictured below; my only fish landed and Chris doing his laundry room audition of the Lord Of The Dance. His leaky waders gave us some goofing around time in the local laundrymat.
-James Pryal
Into The Wild Fly Fishing
Into The Wild Fly Fishing
Jmd123 on Feb 7, 2011February 7th, 2011, 12:20 pm EST
Nice looking fishie there, James! A quick question for ya: do you have a good method of keeping your line/line guides from iceing up on you, or do you only fish on those days when it's near or above freezing?
Jonathon
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Pryal74 on Feb 8, 2011February 8th, 2011, 2:04 am EST
I just clean the eyes out manually. They had frozen up over 50 times, easily. It cost me a hookup once. I was cleaning the eye closest to me and my indicator took a dive. I raised up too slow. When I strip a streamer, my gloves eventually get wet too. I need something a little tougher for my hands. Before we left, I changed gloves and snow was coming off in my hand from the line. To answer your question, no I don't have a method that keeps it out.
-James Pryal
Into The Wild Fly Fishing
Into The Wild Fly Fishing
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