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.

This view of the pipeline, the Atigun River, and an impressive sunset/rise was one of my first views of the North Slope as I came through Atigun Pass in the middle of the night.

From the Atigun River in Alaska

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.

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.

New Mexico ???

Hankaye
Arrey, N.M.

Posts: 1

Hankaye on Apr 18, 2013April 18th, 2013, 8:09 am EDT

Howdy All;
ion of
Still sorta new to fly fishin' and would like to know if their is
any kind of website for the bugs in New Mexico?
I've seen site for the Gunnison River in Colorado, and there is Westfly whichcovers the Northwest States.
Was courious if anyone could point me in the direction of a decient site
to help me identify some bugs that will help me catch some trouts.
Thanks for your consideration.

hank

Striving for a less complicated life since 1949 ...

Taxon

Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311

Taxon on Apr 18, 2013April 18th, 2013, 1:06 pm EDT

Hi Hank,

Listing the "bugs of New Mexico" would be a rather daunting task. So, how about if I simply start by listing the New Mexico mayfly genera (including common names) which are likely to be of some interest to a fly fisher:

Family - Genus - Common Name
Ameletidae - Ameletus - Brown Dun
Baetidae - Acentrella - Bluewinged Olive
Baetidae - Baetis - Bluewinged Olive
Baetidae - Baetodes - Bluewinged Olive
Baetidae - Callibaetis - Speckle-wing
Baetidae - Camelobaetidius - Bluewinged Olive
Baetidae - Centroptilum - Bluewinged Olive
Baetidae - Cloeodes - Bluewinged Olive
Baetidae - Fallceon - Bluewinged Olive
Baetidae - Labiobaetis - Bluewinged Olive
Caenidae - Caenis - Bluewinged Olive
Ephemerellidae - Attenella - Small Buuewinged Olive
Ephemerellidae - Drunella - Slatewinged Olive/Western Green Drake
Ephemerellidae - Ephemerella - Pale Morning Dun
Ephemerellidae - Serratella - Small Western Dark Hendrickson
Ephemerellidae - Timpanoga - Great Bluewinged Red Quill
Ephemeridae - Ephemera - Brown Drake
Ephemeridae - Hexagenia - Big Yellow May
Heptageniidae - Cinygmula - Dark Red Quill
Heptageniidae - Epeorus - Pink Lady/Slate Brown Dun
Heptageniidae - Heptagenia - Pale Evening Dun
Heptageniidae - Leucrocuta - Pale Evening Dun
Heptageniidae - Rhithrogena - Western March Brown
Isonychiidae - Isonychia - Great Western Leadwing
Leptohyphidae - Tricoryhyphes - Trico
Leptophlebiidae - Leptophlebia - Western Black Quill
Leptophlebiidae - Paraleptophlebia - Mahogany Dun
Siphlonuridae - Siphlonurus - Grey Drake

Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com

Sayfu
Posts: 560

Sayfu on Apr 19, 2013April 19th, 2013, 6:37 am EDT

What is far easier, and more practical is to list the river, or stillwater you plan to fish. Every area/state is going to have a huge disparity in the type of water you will fish, or the river you will fish...spring creek vs. freestone river, high Mt small stream vs. lower elevation big river.