Header image
Enter a name
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 Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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.

Zugbuggin
Douglasville, Ga

Posts: 3
Zugbuggin on Mar 9, 2012March 9th, 2012, 3:29 pm EST
Do Early Blacks hatch as traditional Stoneflys do by crawling out of the water before shedding the nymph shuck or do they hatch as most Mayflies do by swimming to the surface and sheading the nymph shuck at the surface or like Quill Gordons do sheading the nymph shuck on the bottom then swimming to the surface??? I have heard all three several times just wanting to know which is true.
Wiflyfisher
Wiflyfisher's profile picture
Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Mar 9, 2012March 9th, 2012, 3:50 pm EST
They crawl out of the water, or right along the shoreline. I have never heard of a stonefly that hatches in the water like mayflies. See Troutnut's stonefly section http://www.troutnut.com/hatch/13/Insect-Plecoptera-Stoneflies.

Quick Reply

Related Discussions

Topic
Replies
Last Reply
3
May 3, 2009
by Konchu
8
Nov 16, 2007
by Taxon
2
Apr 28, 2007
by Martinlf
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy