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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.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
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.
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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Jesse has attached these 6 pictures. The message is below.
Big Rainbow?
Geoff Merker with...a bigger rainbow?
Rick working on some fish.
Beautiful spawning bed.
Winter on Big Spring Creek (wow).
This wasn't near Big Spring, but i couldn't resist the "drive by" temptation to snap a photo.
Jesse
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Posts: 378
Jesse on Dec 29, 2012December 29th, 2012, 2:20 pm EST
Just the other day I had the privilege of fishing with two friends of mine on Pennsylvania's Big Spring Creek. It was my first time fishing on a spring limestone such as this and what an amazing experience. Even though the snow poured down on us all day, we managed to catch a few trout, freeze, and love it. The river was fantastic and i definitely plan on going back soon.
Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
GldstrmSam
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Fairbanks, Alaska

Posts: 212
GldstrmSam on Dec 29, 2012December 29th, 2012, 4:22 pm EST
Great photos, Jesse!

Looks like it was fun! Especially if you like fishing in the snow.:)
Other than fly tying, looking at fishing photos is my second favorite fishing type activity to do in the winter.

Sam
There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm. ~Patrick F. McManus
Crepuscular
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Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920
Crepuscular on Dec 29, 2012December 29th, 2012, 4:58 pm EST
Ah PA limestoners...
Wbranch
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York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Dec 30, 2012December 30th, 2012, 1:05 pm EST
That second rainbow is pretty amazing for such a little spring creek. I've gone there half a dozen times over the past twenty years and have never caught anything bigger than 10". I'm very impressed with your success but not enough to go back and get skunked anymore.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Crepuscular
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Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920
Crepuscular on Dec 30, 2012December 30th, 2012, 3:33 pm EST
That second rainbow is pretty amazing for such a little spring creek. I've gone there half a dozen times over the past twenty years and have never caught anything bigger than 10".


There were and still are some really big fish in Big Spring.
Wbranch
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York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Dec 30, 2012December 30th, 2012, 7:25 pm EST
Crepuscular,

Maybe you'd be willing to show me the ropes over there sometime?
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Crepuscular
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Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920
Crepuscular on Dec 31, 2012December 31st, 2012, 2:48 am EST
Anytime Matt!
Wbranch
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York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Dec 31, 2012December 31st, 2012, 6:24 am EST
Hello Eric,

I didn't know you were a pro until I clicked on ur web site. When I said "Maybe you'd be willing to show me the ropes over there sometime?" I was asking it from the viewpoint of one non pro to another non pro.

So is the offer still open on a no fee basis? I think fishing guides provide an important service I just never felt a need to avail myself to their services.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Crepuscular
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Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920
Crepuscular on Dec 31, 2012December 31st, 2012, 7:09 am EST
Of course. I do not solicit business through public forums.
Jesse
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Posts: 378
Jesse on Jan 1, 2013January 1st, 2013, 3:44 pm EST
Now now there fellas, how about we all meet up and let the young gun teach you timers a thing or two? No business on this trip either.
Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
Wbranch
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York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jan 1, 2013January 1st, 2013, 7:16 pm EST
"how about we all meet up and let the young gun teach you timers a thing or two?"

I don't think that is ever going to happen.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
PaulRoberts
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Colorado

Posts: 1776
PaulRoberts on Jan 2, 2013January 2nd, 2013, 4:04 am EST
Peri-spawn is the prime time for big trout. But it's not the same game as casting to risers during the warm seasons. WB, you already know all about it. It's pretty much the same game, sans lake.
Strmanglr
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Posts: 156
Strmanglr on Jan 2, 2013January 2nd, 2013, 5:18 am EST
That second to last photo is awesome. That's gonna get me out this next week.

Thx for the pics.

Were u nymping, streamers?
Wbranch
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York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jan 2, 2013January 2nd, 2013, 6:36 am EST
Paul wrote,

"But it's not the same game as casting to risers during the warm seasons. WB, you already know all about it. It's pretty much the same game, sans lake."

Yes, I prefer those idyllic days with nice weather, lots of bugs floating down the river, and many riseforms. There was a time when I nymphed more than I fished dry but that was at least 15 years ago. Now I confine all my traditional nymphing to the pursuit of steelhead.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Jesse
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Posts: 378
Jesse on Jan 4, 2013January 4th, 2013, 4:04 pm EST
Wbranch - What don't you think is going to happen? The meeting of the teaching?

Paul - I can't wait for the warm season to cast to some risers on that river or any for that matter. That is hard to beat.

Strmanglr - I'm glad i could encourage some fishing for you. And those fish both ate nymphs. However, fish were caught on streamers too.
Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
PaulRoberts
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Colorado

Posts: 1776
PaulRoberts on Jan 5, 2013January 5th, 2013, 4:45 am EST
Ah... My comment about risers was not a judgment or even an opinion. It was just that winter fishing is a different game from the warmer seasons. I love both, equally. Just as I also love chucking hardware to bass, or anything else for that matter.
Wbranch
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York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jan 5, 2013January 5th, 2013, 9:19 pm EST
"Wbranch - What don't you think is going to happen? The meeting of the teaching?"

Both.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
PaulRoberts
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Colorado

Posts: 1776
PaulRoberts on Jan 6, 2013January 6th, 2013, 5:52 am EST
Sounds like it's that time of year again -cabin fever is setting in.
Wbranch
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York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jan 6, 2013January 6th, 2013, 7:15 am EST
"Sounds like it's that time of year again -cabin fever is setting in."

Would it be any fun if I agreed with everyone? Yes, I've tied all the flies I need for 2013 and it's too cold to go to Erie for steelhead so I'm not fishing and hence have become cantankerous.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
PaulRoberts
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Colorado

Posts: 1776
PaulRoberts on Jan 6, 2013January 6th, 2013, 8:51 am EST
I hear you. I keep reminding myself, "Levity!" And I keep forgetting.

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