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 a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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Roguerat on Aug 6, 2011August 6th, 2011, 8:59 am EDT
anbody ever given thought to tying-bench cleanup by using one of those mini (micro?) vacuum-cleaners they make for electronic stuff like keyboards?
I'm married to the most forgiving wife in the world, she admires everything I tie with a that's nice, dear' and I want to keep her happy. that means no piles of clipped deer hair on the carpet, no stray feathers hanging out of the dog's mouth, etc...
I think I'll Google this item and see what's out there, just for grins.
I Peter 5:7...'Cast your cares upon Him'
I'm married to the most forgiving wife in the world, she admires everything I tie with a that's nice, dear' and I want to keep her happy. that means no piles of clipped deer hair on the carpet, no stray feathers hanging out of the dog's mouth, etc...
I think I'll Google this item and see what's out there, just for grins.
I Peter 5:7...'Cast your cares upon Him'
Jesse on Aug 6, 2011August 6th, 2011, 10:02 pm EDT
What the hells bells de very confused hopper pattern!
Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
Roguerat on Aug 7, 2011August 7th, 2011, 3:25 am EDT
vacuum-cleaned hoppers?
I saw a balsa-bodied monstrosity from the '50's in a magazine recently, guess it follows suit that this 'fly' was dreamed up during the days of 'duck and cover' and radiation-spawned mutants all over the place.
I saw a balsa-bodied monstrosity from the '50's in a magazine recently, guess it follows suit that this 'fly' was dreamed up during the days of 'duck and cover' and radiation-spawned mutants all over the place.
Gutcutter on Aug 7, 2011August 7th, 2011, 5:33 pm EDT
vacuum-cleaned hoppers?
and radiation-spawned mutants all over the place.
Yeah, they wouldn't work anymore. Fish don't like Chernobyl ants or hoppers. Don't ever try to use them in Pennsylvania.
Oh, yeah, I guess you would have to throw them at SMB because we have no trouts in PA
:)
All men who fish may in turn be divided into two parts: those who fish for trout and those who don't. Trout fishermen are a race apart: they are a dedicated crew- indolent, improvident, and quietly mad.
-Robert Traver, Trout Madness
-Robert Traver, Trout Madness
Roguerat on Aug 8, 2011August 8th, 2011, 5:48 am EDT
make a quick trip to West MI, then- it rained over the weekend and we've been advised of the possibility of a 'run' of "Brown Trout" in the Grand again.
seriously, heading for The Muskegon this evening, SMB are said to be hitting topwaters pretty consistently. sz 10 poppers and frogs,etc, on Stinger hooks.
'should I wear a film-badge when tying on Chernobyl mutants?'
I Peter 5:7...'Cast your cares upon Him'
seriously, heading for The Muskegon this evening, SMB are said to be hitting topwaters pretty consistently. sz 10 poppers and frogs,etc, on Stinger hooks.
'should I wear a film-badge when tying on Chernobyl mutants?'
I Peter 5:7...'Cast your cares upon Him'
Jmd123 on Aug 8, 2011August 8th, 2011, 12:45 pm EDT
Depends on whether they actually glow in the dark or not...
Jonathon
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
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