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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 Epeorus albertae (Heptageniidae) (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph from the East Fork Issaquah Creek in Washington
This specimen keys to the Epeorus albertae group of species. Of the five species in that group, the two known in Washington state are Epeorus albertae and Epeorus dulciana. Of the two, albertae has been collected in vastly more locations in Washington than dulciana, suggesting it is far more common. On that basis alone I'm tentatively putting this nymph in albertae, with the large caveat that there's no real information to rule out dulciana.
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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This topic is about the Hellgrammite Genus Corydalus

The largest and most well-known hellgrammites belong to this genus, although in my collecting experiences the fishflies of Nigronia seem to be more common in trout streams.

Example specimen

Yemoss
Posts: 1
Yemoss on May 29, 2007May 29th, 2007, 6:02 pm EDT
Far from a fly-fisherman, I still wanted to identify a menacing- looking insect which invaded our late-night campfire council this past Memorial Day Weekend in Millford, PA on the Delaware River (cr 206 n). We stayed at Kittatiny Canoe Campgrounds, very commercial, but made the best of it. The amount of these bugs crawling around at night, lured by our glowing fire, was incredible. Today I identified them as Hellgramites, and also learned that they are prized by bass and trout. Didn't even think to bring a pole with the short weekend - we went rafting instead. Still wanted to inform fellow fisherman of the abundance and location of this critter. Important to note that our sites bordered the river - one website I read indicated that Hellgramites won't go more than 50 yards inland from their water source; I'm not sure if that's common to most aquatic species but I'd imagine so.
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jul 22, 2007July 22nd, 2007, 4:04 am EDT
I think the adult, winged insect, is called a Dobson Fly. They seem attracted to light and fly around in the night and can scare the heck out of you as they have big wings and pincers.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681
GONZO on Jul 22, 2007July 22nd, 2007, 4:21 am EDT
...one website I read said that Hellgrammites won't go more than 50 yards inland from their water source....

Yemoss, that may have been referring to the travels of the Dobsonfly larvae (hellgrammites); they pupate terrestrially. Many adult aquatic insects are attracted to lights, often quite some distance from stream or lake.

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