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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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.
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.
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Martinlf on Jan 22, 2007January 22nd, 2007, 10:50 am EST
Very interesting. Thanks for the input.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Brntrout on Feb 26, 2007February 26th, 2007, 1:40 am EST
I tie my own leaders so I have the opportunity switch to either mono or fluorocarbon tippets quite quickly. My leaders are built of mono in the butt section and mid section, the tippet section is fluoro when nymphing and mono when dry fly fishing.
Actually using fluoro for dry fly fishing works fine if your NOT fishing small size flies. A size 16 or larger fly seems to float long enough to get a decent drift before you have to recast but the smaller size flies become emergers real quick because of fluorocarbon's sinking qualities.
However, that situation isn't a cause for concern at times, it can be a benefit when fishing BWO hatches. The weather conditions that BWO's like to emerge in, usually dictates there will be a large percentage of cripple duns, emergers and duns on the water at the same time. The trout of course, take the flies that are the easestto capture, that being the cripple duns and emergers.
Anyway I got off the subject. Regarding the brands of tippet material I like best, I like Rio Fluorocarbon Plus & Rio mono. I can't think of to many brands of tippet material I haven't tried, for me the Rio products get the job done just fine!
Regarding how fluorocarbon breaks down VS mono, I don't see this as a major problem. I don't see mono or fluoro laying around on the ground where I fish. I guess, if there was a problem along that line I would consider it a big deal.
Besides, I would worry a lot more about increased sediment bedloads, ag chemicals and other pollutants entering our streams before I would get too excited about a few bits & pieces of fluorocarbon laying around on the ground! That is what I consider the REAL environmental issues we have out there!
Actually using fluoro for dry fly fishing works fine if your NOT fishing small size flies. A size 16 or larger fly seems to float long enough to get a decent drift before you have to recast but the smaller size flies become emergers real quick because of fluorocarbon's sinking qualities.
However, that situation isn't a cause for concern at times, it can be a benefit when fishing BWO hatches. The weather conditions that BWO's like to emerge in, usually dictates there will be a large percentage of cripple duns, emergers and duns on the water at the same time. The trout of course, take the flies that are the easestto capture, that being the cripple duns and emergers.
Anyway I got off the subject. Regarding the brands of tippet material I like best, I like Rio Fluorocarbon Plus & Rio mono. I can't think of to many brands of tippet material I haven't tried, for me the Rio products get the job done just fine!
Regarding how fluorocarbon breaks down VS mono, I don't see this as a major problem. I don't see mono or fluoro laying around on the ground where I fish. I guess, if there was a problem along that line I would consider it a big deal.
Besides, I would worry a lot more about increased sediment bedloads, ag chemicals and other pollutants entering our streams before I would get too excited about a few bits & pieces of fluorocarbon laying around on the ground! That is what I consider the REAL environmental issues we have out there!
brntrout
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