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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 Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
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.
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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Bfdfisher
Posts: 1
Bfdfisher on May 26, 2011May 26th, 2011, 5:50 pm EDT
This was the hatch of the night on 25 May 2011. It was epic....yet nothing was rising or visibly feeding. Not really positive what it is. It could be a Hendrickson, it's just so dark and eyes are so red. All the bugs coming off had the same strikingly red eyes.
Thanks all
PaulRoberts
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Colorado

Posts: 1776
PaulRoberts on May 26, 2011May 26th, 2011, 7:10 pm EDT
Male Ephemerellids of some type. Late for subvaria unless you are up north. Early for Seratella me thinks.

Where are you?
What size (hook size) were they?
Troutnut
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Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on May 27, 2011May 27th, 2011, 12:36 am EDT
If you click the "edit" link above your post, you'll see an option to attach your picture... that'll potentially help us with the ID.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
PaulRoberts
PaulRoberts's profile picture
Colorado

Posts: 1776
PaulRoberts on May 27, 2011May 27th, 2011, 6:06 am EDT
I'm going to guess right now:

Serratella deficiens/tibialis -#16 chocolate dun with nearly black wings, pale legs, and red eyes on males.

If not such dark wings and a dark olive body then mebbe a Drunella.

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