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.

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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Picky Eaters

Report at a Glance

General Region	South Central PA
Specific Location	Tulpehocken Creek
Dates Fished	June 9
Time of Day	5:30 a.m. (for Matt, me 6) till about 1:30
Fish Caught	Browns and Rainbows
Conditions & Hatches	Water was a bit turbid, emerald and tan caddis, tricos. Cloudy then mostly sunny, wind picked up as the day progressed.

Details and Discussion

Martinlf

Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047

Martinlf on Jun 11, 2012June 11th, 2012, 3:40 am EDT

Met Matt Hainst on the Tully. There is no way to spot burn this stream as it's well known and visited by everyone within 100 miles. Even so, I won't say exactly where we fished, but I started upstream a few miles nymphing, then joined Matt downstream for some dry fly action. We both caught fish and we both had refusals, but a good time was had by all, except a dozen or so fish who were, after a bit of exercise and further education, released. I had fish up to 14 inches, and Matt some bigger, I believe, but Matt can correct me if I'm wrong about this. No photos that I know of. The fish were fat and healthy, if well-schooled.

"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

Oldredbarn

Novi, MI

Posts: 2600

Oldredbarn on Jun 11, 2012June 11th, 2012, 1:40 pm EDT

The fish were fat and healthy, if well-schooled.

Louis...If they weren't "well-schooled" before you and Matt showed up, they are now! :)

Spence

"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood