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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 Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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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Report at a Glance

General RegionThe U.P.
Dates Fished5/27/2013
Time of DayAfternoon
Fish CaughtSmallmouth Bass
Conditions & Hatches70 degrees and sunny

Details and Discussion

Pryal74
Pryal74's profile picture
Escanaba, MI

Posts: 168
Pryal74 on May 28, 2013May 28th, 2013, 10:58 am EDT
I hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day weekend. We were blessed with good weather, for a change. I took my daughter out to chase after some huge smallies. She did well! She went 4 for 4, landing all hogs.

We hit the parade, cooked burgers and got to fly fish for a few hours in gorgeous weather. I hope everyone had a great day as well.

Oldredbarn
Oldredbarn's profile picture
Novi, MI

Posts: 2600
Oldredbarn on Jun 1, 2013June 1st, 2013, 8:03 am EDT
Nice!!! Jim...How did I miss this one?! Now there's a happy camper if I've ever seen one. Tell her I'll post a fishing report from my trip to Port Austin a couple weekends prior to Memorial Day...We were hassling spawning smallies in Eagle Bay.

My Memorial Days are always a bit of a let down because since 1991 I've spent the week before in Grayling and drive home the Sunday before Memorial Day...That means I'm unloading the fishing wagon, and cleaning waders etc.

I'll try and post a report from my Grayling week from this year as well...Though there wasn't much to report...Tuesday it rained and the river rose 4-6" and the water temps dropped from 61 to 50 over night...I needed Bruce to show me some of his nymphing techniques since one person told me of a nice fish caught vomitting up green caddis larvae...

Better watch out Jim, she may grow up to be a better angler than her Pops! ;)

Spence

PS...Tell her that her angling ensemble is better than April Vokey's!
"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
Pryal74
Pryal74's profile picture
Escanaba, MI

Posts: 168
Pryal74 on Jun 1, 2013June 1st, 2013, 9:48 pm EDT
You're so kind Spence. Yes, please post a report.

She might be a better caster in only a few years. Crazy watching her toss that big 7 wt around.

She missed a big smallie coming out of the swift current. I told her "You need to set that hook HARD." So, the next time she does and says "That TIME I did Dad!"

I don't know about that... I'm just glad she wears flowers and horses on her shirts and not Justin Beiber or worse! Hahaha!
Kschaefer3
Kschaefer3's profile picture
St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376
Kschaefer3 on Jun 4, 2013June 4th, 2013, 4:48 am EDT
Great fish! Glad you were able to enjoy your Memorial Day with your daughter.
Adirman
Adirman's profile picture
Monticello, NY

Posts: 479
Adirman on Jun 4, 2013June 4th, 2013, 1:42 pm EDT
Nice!! That Smallies a pig!!

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