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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.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.

I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.

The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.

Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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.

Gid
Lithuania,East Europe

Posts: 2
Gid on Nov 3, 2006November 3rd, 2006, 3:03 am EST
do we have fly paterns of insect pics in this site?larvas,haching insects,adults???
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Nov 3, 2006November 3rd, 2006, 6:26 am EST
I'm not a big believer in using fly patterns to imitate insects. It's better to learn styles to imitate different kinds of insects in certain stages, and then figure out which styles (like Comparadun for example) are suitable for which hatches. Then just tie something in that style using colors that seem to match the pictures.

Anyway, the short answer is no -- there aren't any fly pattern/recipes on this site. There are lots of other sites which cover that pretty well already.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Gid
Lithuania,East Europe

Posts: 2
Gid on Nov 3, 2006November 3rd, 2006, 6:52 am EST
big thanks then,for answer.
Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197
Shawnny3 on Nov 3, 2006November 3rd, 2006, 10:39 am EST
"I'm not a big believer in using fly patterns to imitate insects."

Taken out of context, this is a pretty funny statement, especially from you, Jason. Sorry, couldn't help myself.

-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Nov 3, 2006November 3rd, 2006, 1:42 pm EST
I seem to be on a streak of making statements that sound all wrong out of context... :)
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681
GONZO on Nov 3, 2006November 3rd, 2006, 3:48 pm EST
Jason,

You'll notice that I showed even more restraint on this one than the last one. As the trout say, "Once bitten...."
JAD
JAD's profile picture
Alexandria Pa

Posts: 362
JAD on Nov 12, 2006November 12th, 2006, 2:40 am EST


Pretty funny

Sorry Jason
Lol
Jad

They fasten red (crimson red) wool around a hook, and fix onto the wool two feathers which grow under a cock’s wattles, and which in colour are like wax.
Radcliffe's Fishing from the Earliest Times,

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