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.

Here Oksrukuyik Creek flows away from the Dalton Highway toward the pipeline. It eventually grows into one of the major rivers of the North Slope, and the main drainage to the west of the Sag, but where it crosses the road it's just a small grayling stream.

From Oksrukuyik Creek in Alaska

Stream photos

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Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Skwala (Perlodidae) (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

This Skwala nymph still has a couple months left to go before hatching, but it's still a good representative of its species, which was extremely abundant in my sample for a stonefly of this size. It's obvious why the Yakima is known for its Skwala hatch.

6 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.

Site updates from August 9, 2011

Underwater photos by Bnewell from the Touchet River in Washington

This is a tailed frog, genus Ascaphus that lives in cold fast streams of the west. Perhaps this critter is one reason that leech flies work in some trout streams.

From the Touchet River in Washington

Closeup insects by Bnewell from the Touchet River in Washington

Calineuria californica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph

1 Picture

Calineuria californica (Perlidae) (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph from the Touchet River in Washington

Collected August 8, 2011 from the Touchet River in Washington

Added by Bnewell on August 9, 2011

Collected August 8, 2011 from the Touchet River in Washington and added by Bnewell on August 9, 2011

Drunella coloradensis (Small Western Green Drake) Mayfly Nymph

1 Picture

Drunella coloradensis (Ephemerellidae) (Small Western Green Drake) Mayfly Nymph from the Touchet River in Washington

Collected August 8, 2011 from the Touchet River in Washington

Added by Bnewell on August 9, 2011

Collected August 8, 2011 from the Touchet River in Washington and added by Bnewell on August 9, 2011

Drunella coloradensis (Small Western Green Drake) Mayfly Nymph

1 Picture

Collected August 8, 2011 from the Touchet River in Washington

Added by Bnewell on August 9, 2011

Collected August 8, 2011 from the Touchet River in Washington and added by Bnewell on August 9, 2011

Comments / replies

Oldredbarn

Novi, MI

Posts: 2600

Oldredbarn on Aug 10, 2011August 10th, 2011, 9:42 am EDT

Bob,

Nice pics! I love those Drunella! They look like they could knock around just about any other aquatic insect...Like they have been "bulking up" in the weight room.

Spence

"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood

Troutnut

Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758

Troutnut on Aug 10, 2011August 10th, 2011, 2:56 pm EDT

Those are nice ones! I think Drunella doddsii could beat them up in a heavyweight boxing match, although they do look more nimble.

Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Aug 10, 2011August 10th, 2011, 5:11 pm EDT

In water where Drunella can be found, everything gets out of the way of the perlids.:)

Kurt

"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman