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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.

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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.

FisherOfMen
FisherOfMen's profile picture
NY

Posts: 115
FisherOfMen on Feb 28, 2012February 28th, 2012, 10:41 am EST
Hey guys I was just wondering if anyone on Troutnut lived near me.

*Trolling for fishing buddies* ;)

I'm in Star Lake, Northwestern Adirondacks of New York. Anyone near, or ever pass through? If you've ever fished the area, feel free to throw out a few good spots. I've never paid attention to the streams around here because I've always had a lake in my backyard!


Thanks,
Nick
"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught." -Author Unknown

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -Edmund Burke
Flatstick96
Flatstick96's profile picture
Posts: 127
Flatstick96 on Feb 28, 2012February 28th, 2012, 1:00 pm EST
I've never fished up your way, but the last couple of times I've been home to visit (Ithaca), I've considered taking a few days to go up and try to find some decent fishing in the Adirondacks.

Still would like to get up there to fish someday.
Motrout
Motrout's profile picture
Posts: 319
Motrout on Feb 28, 2012February 28th, 2012, 2:33 pm EST
You live in a very special area my friend! I've never spent time fishing quite as far west as the Star Lake area, but I do really love the western/central Adirondack region. So many lakes and slow moving streams, just full of smallmouth and pike, plus the occasional brookie! I've done a lot of paddling in the Tupper Lake area, and my goodness there are so many great places to fish around there. My favorite part of it's a bit east of you in the Long Lake area, but the Racquette River is one stream in your neck of the woods that I just love. It isn't the best trout stream (although there are certainly are some browns and brookies in the upper reaches) but in the gentler reaches it's really one of the better floating and fishing streams I know of out there, smallmouth and pike are the main targets, with some good wading on certain stretches as well. Just be careful about where you float that one, because in certain stretches there are lots of rapids and even a couple of huge waterfalls, in others it's very placid without hardly even any riffles. There are certainly some great brookie ponds out your way too, but I can't help you with that. I've only been there in July and August, and that just ain't pond brookie season, unless it's really spring-fed.

If you're wanting to drive a bit further east to the High Peaks, I could tell you about a whole bunch of good streams for native brookies and browns. Just like everyone else, the West Branch of the Ausable is my favorite because of the great dry fly fishing, but there are so many others. Also the Saranac is a stream you might want to try, good trout fishing in a couple of tailwater reaches and faster moving sections, great smallmouth fishing everywhere else. If you want any more specific info on any of these areas, feel free to PM me and I'll be happy to help out any way I can, if you'll promise to catch and release those brookies!

Chances are good that I'll be up to the Adirondacks sometime within the next couple of years, and when I do maybe we can meet up and fish together. In the mean-time, good luck!
"I don't know what fly fishing teaches us, but I think it's something we need to know."-John Gierach
http://fishingintheozarks.blogspot.com/
FisherOfMen
FisherOfMen's profile picture
NY

Posts: 115
FisherOfMen on Mar 10, 2012March 10th, 2012, 10:45 am EST
Thanks, but I probably won't be going that far east. There's still a few good streams within 10-20 miles, though. Mostly small trout around here, but oh so much fun to catch!

I didn't even know the Racquette had any coldwater species!
"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught." -Author Unknown

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -Edmund Burke
FisherOfMen
FisherOfMen's profile picture
NY

Posts: 115
FisherOfMen on Mar 10, 2012March 10th, 2012, 12:57 pm EST
Well, by all means, Flatstick, make it this season! I know WHERE to fish, and you know HOW to fish! ;)
"Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught." -Author Unknown

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -Edmund Burke

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