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.

This view of the pipeline, the Atigun River, and an impressive sunset/rise was one of my first views of the North Slope as I came through Atigun Pass in the middle of the night.

From the Atigun River in Alaska

Stream photos

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Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult

Lateral view of a Female Sweltsa borealis (Chloroperlidae) (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from Harris Creek in Washington

I was not fishing, but happened to be at an unrelated social event on a hill above this tiny creek (which I never even saw) when this stonefly flew by me. I assume it came from there. Some key characteristics are tricky to follow, but process of elimination ultimately led me to Sweltsa borealis. It is reassuringly similar to this specimen posted by Bob Newell years ago. It is also so strikingly similar to this nymph from the same river system that I'm comfortable identifying that nymph from this adult. I was especially pleased with the closeup photo of four mites parasitizing this one.

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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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Donnie
Posts: 1

Donnie on Nov 8, 2011November 8th, 2011, 6:00 am EST

just want to say im learning to fly fish have done it for years but just for bream but now i want to do it about 3 days a week.I fish 6 days a week im somewhat disable since 1995 At one time i had a fly that looked like a big black ant an i caught alot of red breast but lost it years ago an cant find another like it.I guess what im asking is if you can give me some tips on good flies it would be great i want to get into this alot more we have no trout where i live but i fish for bream,crappie,bass,red fin pike,jack.Cant aford alot at one time but if its not to high an you can put together some good flies for these fish let me know.Thanks for your time. donniep334@gmail.com

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Nov 8, 2011November 8th, 2011, 6:36 am EST

Hi Donnie,

Welcome to the forum!

...you can put together some good flies for these fish let me know...

Well for starters, let's get that special ant fly replaced as best we can. Can you describe it? Wet fly or dry, size, regular or long shank hook (two times the length of the hook gap or longer) Hackle color (if any) & where it was wound, body material (fur, foam rubber, etc), 3 segmented or two? Rubber legs (or not), wings (or not); was it bulkier than a real ant or about the same, etc.

As to other flies, their are a few friends on the forum with lots of sunfish & bass experience that will be sharing info with you soon, I'm sure.

Happy angling!

"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