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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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.
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.
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Oldredbarn has attached these 11 pictures. The message is below.
Oldredbarn on Apr 13, 2013April 13th, 2013, 6:51 pm EDT
We started the day with a visit to the TCO flyshop near Bellefonte. George Daniels, author of, "Dynamic Nymphing" was there and he and I had a nice talk. I had met him a few years back at the Michigan Fly Fishing Clubs annual fly fishing show. He told me that he had a chance to float with my Au Sable guide friend Jim Calvin on the South Branch and had a great day astream. Jimmy and I float together every Memorial Day weekend and have done so for more years than I'd like to think have passed.
The boys had arranged for us to have breakfast with Bill Anderson, known as the dean of the Little J. He was going to give us a little tour after we ate and the conversaion at breakfast was wonderful. He is the head of the Little Juniata River Association.
Tony had told me that Bill is the Rusty Gates of the Little J...He is committed to the water shed and his concerns did remind me of the late Rusty Gates a great deal. He gave us a tour of fishable places where the crowds seem to avoid.
This is just an example of how thought out my visit was. The whole thing was for my benefit and I'll never forget the opportunity I had to chat with two of PA's dedicated anglers. I will never forget it boys! Thanks.
The Little J is the most difficult stream to wade I have ever seen. It is a mountain stream, wide and unruly, with boulders that can vary from bowling ball size to VW beetles! Then add a hefty current and you may want to stay in the car.
I would not of made it if Bruce hadn't lent me an extra wading staff...I ended up buying one later in the trip when I met the second hardest stream for me to wade, Penn's Creek.
This was Bruce's showcase and he put on a show of short line nymphing that was custom made for these rocky streams. He was doing really well until he fell in, but this didn't seem to phase him one bit, like if you haven't fallen in the Little J you aren't fishing her correctly. :)
We fished an area known as the gorge and it is probably what folks outside of PA think of when they think of PA streams...High mountains on all sides, an old railroad trestle with trains passing all the time, and rocks in all shapes and sizes...
I was skunked in the Little J...Tony caught a few near the evening on a dry. Fish that were along a bubble stream just to one side of the main current. We didn't get the bugs on this day that we had hoped for, but I can just imagine this wild stream erupting when they show.
The boys had arranged for us to have breakfast with Bill Anderson, known as the dean of the Little J. He was going to give us a little tour after we ate and the conversaion at breakfast was wonderful. He is the head of the Little Juniata River Association.
Tony had told me that Bill is the Rusty Gates of the Little J...He is committed to the water shed and his concerns did remind me of the late Rusty Gates a great deal. He gave us a tour of fishable places where the crowds seem to avoid.
This is just an example of how thought out my visit was. The whole thing was for my benefit and I'll never forget the opportunity I had to chat with two of PA's dedicated anglers. I will never forget it boys! Thanks.
The Little J is the most difficult stream to wade I have ever seen. It is a mountain stream, wide and unruly, with boulders that can vary from bowling ball size to VW beetles! Then add a hefty current and you may want to stay in the car.
I would not of made it if Bruce hadn't lent me an extra wading staff...I ended up buying one later in the trip when I met the second hardest stream for me to wade, Penn's Creek.
This was Bruce's showcase and he put on a show of short line nymphing that was custom made for these rocky streams. He was doing really well until he fell in, but this didn't seem to phase him one bit, like if you haven't fallen in the Little J you aren't fishing her correctly. :)
We fished an area known as the gorge and it is probably what folks outside of PA think of when they think of PA streams...High mountains on all sides, an old railroad trestle with trains passing all the time, and rocks in all shapes and sizes...
I was skunked in the Little J...Tony caught a few near the evening on a dry. Fish that were along a bubble stream just to one side of the main current. We didn't get the bugs on this day that we had hoped for, but I can just imagine this wild stream erupting when they show.
"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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Crepuscular on Apr 14, 2013April 14th, 2013, 5:28 am EDT
This was Bruce's showcase and he put on a show of short line nymphing that was custom made for these rocky streams. He was doing really well until he fell in, but this didn't seem to phase him one bit, like if you haven't fallen in the Little J you aren't fishing her correctly. :)
Too much benthic thrust...
Martinlf on Apr 14, 2013April 14th, 2013, 5:39 am EDT
It'll get you every time.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Oldredbarn on Apr 14, 2013April 14th, 2013, 11:55 am EDT
Bruce will have to remind us exactly what they were again, but he left his underwear hanging from a limb at the Little J parking area...He had to change to some dry closes post falling in...I think they had some Hanna Barberra character imprinted on them...If you happen to stop there and see them hanging there would you please grab them for him...If you dare. ;)
After he headed home he blamed the spill on us...Said one of us had shoved him in...I think he waded so close to one of those boulders he was going to nymph that he stepped on the trout.
Eric and I blame him for the storm that blew out Penn's Creek...He was trying to conjure up a tornado because we were having so much fun and he was back at work.
Spence
It looks placid up top, but the bottom is rough and uneven...Besides Bruce falling in Tony fell on the bank as we were walking back down the trail to the car...I was thinking, "Damn! I hope we don't screw up the doctors hands here!" But he was ok...I fell walking along Penn's...I stubbed my wading boot on something and did one of those running falls trying to regain my balance...I dropped the rod on purpose for fear that I'd ram the tip in to the ground. You need to have some mountain goat in you to fish some of those wild PA streams...
After he headed home he blamed the spill on us...Said one of us had shoved him in...I think he waded so close to one of those boulders he was going to nymph that he stepped on the trout.
Eric and I blame him for the storm that blew out Penn's Creek...He was trying to conjure up a tornado because we were having so much fun and he was back at work.
Spence
Wow spence nice photo series. That river is 100X the size of anything I fish.
It looks placid up top, but the bottom is rough and uneven...Besides Bruce falling in Tony fell on the bank as we were walking back down the trail to the car...I was thinking, "Damn! I hope we don't screw up the doctors hands here!" But he was ok...I fell walking along Penn's...I stubbed my wading boot on something and did one of those running falls trying to regain my balance...I dropped the rod on purpose for fear that I'd ram the tip in to the ground. You need to have some mountain goat in you to fish some of those wild PA streams...
"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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
PaulRoberts on Apr 15, 2013April 15th, 2013, 11:24 am EDT
Fun read. Nice pics.
That's ... less far along than Spring. I suppose that's due to ground water in Spring? And the Lil J is deeper in the fold in the hills?
That's ... less far along than Spring. I suppose that's due to ground water in Spring? And the Lil J is deeper in the fold in the hills?
JOHNW on Apr 15, 2013April 15th, 2013, 3:41 pm EDT
Mack,
The Little J and Penns are two of PA's mid sized to large trout streams however the most treacherous by far is the Yough for short (pronounce YOCK). Which has some legit class 4-5 white water and boulders which resemble houses.
Of course we have many more hundreds of miles of streams that you can easily dap the far bank with a 7' or smaller rod.
Spence,
The stretch in shot #1 is one of my top 3 stretches on the Little J and is responsible for several twisted and one severe high ankle sprain.
The Little J and Penns are two of PA's mid sized to large trout streams however the most treacherous by far is the Yough for short (pronounce YOCK). Which has some legit class 4-5 white water and boulders which resemble houses.
Of course we have many more hundreds of miles of streams that you can easily dap the far bank with a 7' or smaller rod.
Spence,
The stretch in shot #1 is one of my top 3 stretches on the Little J and is responsible for several twisted and one severe high ankle sprain.
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn
Oldredbarn on Apr 15, 2013April 15th, 2013, 7:29 pm EDT
The stretch in shot #1 is one of my top 3 stretches on the Little J and is responsible for several twisted and one severe high ankle sprain.
Ha! John I feel that if we had bugs to speak of that day I might of taken that trade off...:) We anglers seem to put danger way back in the brain when fish are rising.
"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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
JOHNW on Apr 16, 2013April 16th, 2013, 2:44 pm EDT
Mack,
I know that area reasonably well a good friend of mine lived just ouside of Williamsport. Had her wedding reception at Genettis in fact.
Spence,
Problem was I got so locked in on stalking a riser that I seemed to forget that there were even rocks in the river. My Dad was with me that day and he rated the fall a 8.9 on the McManus scoring system. The sole deduction was due to the lack of a witty comment as I fell. He seemed to feel that "oh sh...............(splash)" was too mundane.
I know that area reasonably well a good friend of mine lived just ouside of Williamsport. Had her wedding reception at Genettis in fact.
Spence,
Problem was I got so locked in on stalking a riser that I seemed to forget that there were even rocks in the river. My Dad was with me that day and he rated the fall a 8.9 on the McManus scoring system. The sole deduction was due to the lack of a witty comment as I fell. He seemed to feel that "oh sh...............(splash)" was too mundane.
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn
Oldredbarn on Apr 16, 2013April 16th, 2013, 3:57 pm EDT
My Dad was with me that day and he rated the fall a 8.9 on the McManus scoring system. The sole deduction was due to the lack of a witty comment as I fell. He seemed to feel that "oh sh...............(splash)" was too mundane.
Your dad would of fit right in with the gang I was fishing with last week...:) Bruce went down as if he does it every day...Didn't phase him one bit.
All kidding aside...With all those rocks in there it could be dangerous.
"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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
JOHNW on Apr 16, 2013April 16th, 2013, 6:28 pm EDT
Unfortunately (well actually fortunately)it is I and not he that took the fall.
Even more unfortunate is that He will likely never get up there to fish that riffle again. 55+ years of smoking 1-2 packs a day and working in an asbestos laden steel mill have done his lungs some serious damage and most times going a flight of stairs is enough to have him on the sidelines for 5 minutes.
Still I would take the J over Penns any day. I routinely try to float my hat on that river.
Even more unfortunate is that He will likely never get up there to fish that riffle again. 55+ years of smoking 1-2 packs a day and working in an asbestos laden steel mill have done his lungs some serious damage and most times going a flight of stairs is enough to have him on the sidelines for 5 minutes.
Still I would take the J over Penns any day. I routinely try to float my hat on that river.
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn
Oldredbarn on Apr 16, 2013April 16th, 2013, 8:35 pm EDT
John,
I meant that your dad would of fit right in because of his sense of humor...It sounded, by what he said when you fell in, that he and Bruce maybe cut from the same comic cloth.
I meant that your dad would of fit right in because of his sense of humor...It sounded, by what he said when you fell in, that he and Bruce maybe cut from the same comic cloth.
"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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
JOHNW on Apr 17, 2013April 17th, 2013, 2:11 am EDT
Spence you really need to find the Short Story Pat McMAnus wrote on scoring falls and falling in general, if you haven't read it already.
Oh and he would fit in the manner of Klutziness as well. Who do you think I learned how to fall in from?
;)
JW
Oh and he would fit in the manner of Klutziness as well. Who do you think I learned how to fall in from?
;)
JW
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn
Feathers5
Posts: 287
Posts: 287
Feathers5 on Apr 17, 2013April 17th, 2013, 5:40 am EDT
I didn't fall I was looking for Spence's sunglasses.
Bruce
Bruce
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