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.

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Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Glossosoma (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

I caught this tiny larva without a case, but it seems to key pretty clearly to to Glossosomatidae. From there, the lack of sclerites on the mesonotum points to either Glossosoma or Anagapetus. Although it's difficult to see in a 2D image from the microscope, it's pretty clear in the live 3D view that the pronotum is only excised about 1/3 of its length to accommodate the forecoxa, not 2/3, which points to Glossosoma at Couplet 5 of the Key to Genera of Glossosomatidae Larvae.

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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.

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.

Drifting Drunella Underwater

PaulRoberts

Colorado

Posts: 1776

PaulRoberts on Feb 23, 2013February 23rd, 2013, 12:58 pm EST

Drunella drifting with current:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h9elSPDRQs
Shows nymphs pretty much out of control, probably resting between swimming bouts. A follow up to previous discussions about fly drift posture.

Crepuscular

Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920

Crepuscular on Feb 23, 2013February 23rd, 2013, 1:45 pm EST

Cool video. Thanks for posting the link.

Eric

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Feb 23, 2013February 23rd, 2013, 2:37 pm EST

Excellent, Paul. Sure confirms why some designs that can't help but drift upside down still work so well and that getting too anal about nymph orientation when fished dead drift is probably unnecessary. Also dispels the myth that nymphs are either drifting along the bottom or at the surface. This isn't specific, either. I've noticed the same behavior with other mayflies, stones, and caddis as well. Ever notice the odd baetid every now and then attached to the meniscus upside down when they hatch? My guess is that's the source of a lot of cripples. Great stuff, thanks!

"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman