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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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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Report at a Glance
| General Region | Interior Alaska |
| Specific Location | Badger Slough |
| Dates Fished | Thursday-30 May |
| Time of Day | Morning/Afternoon |
| Fish Caught | Grayling |
| Conditions & Hatches | Clear water, sunny, 80-85 degrees(F). Did not look for hatches. |
Details and Discussion
GldstrmSam on Jun 1, 2013June 1st, 2013, 11:14 pm EDT
I went fishing with a friend on Thursday for grayling in the Badger slough (off the Chena river), and tried my new rod and reel* set up for the first time.
Even though the day was hot, I had a very successful trip.
Within the first 10 minutes caught at least five fish. After the sun rose higher the fish, for the most part, got lazy and I had to work the fly a little harder to get a strike. None the less I still caught and released at least twenty five grayling by mid afternoon. One of which set a new grayling record for me at about 16"+.
If you know me fairly well you should easily be able to guess which fly I caught most of them on. Yep! you guessed it - a bead head Brassie. I also was doing very well on a nymph of my own creation, but it started falling apart after a few fish.(of course I did not have any more in my fly box:) I also caught a couple using a good old Red Tag.
My friend was fishing lures so he only caught two grayling. :) :)
Samuel
*I finally settled on an Echo Ion fly reel and am very pleased with it so far.
Even though the day was hot, I had a very successful trip.
Within the first 10 minutes caught at least five fish. After the sun rose higher the fish, for the most part, got lazy and I had to work the fly a little harder to get a strike. None the less I still caught and released at least twenty five grayling by mid afternoon. One of which set a new grayling record for me at about 16"+.
If you know me fairly well you should easily be able to guess which fly I caught most of them on. Yep! you guessed it - a bead head Brassie. I also was doing very well on a nymph of my own creation, but it started falling apart after a few fish.(of course I did not have any more in my fly box:) I also caught a couple using a good old Red Tag.
My friend was fishing lures so he only caught two grayling. :) :)
Samuel
*I finally settled on an Echo Ion fly reel and am very pleased with it so far.
There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm. ~Patrick F. McManus
Troutnut on Jun 5, 2013June 5th, 2013, 12:49 am EDT
Glad you had a good trip! I've been thinking of heading out there while waiting for the rivers to go down, but I've been too busy lately. Had a really fun bear hunt in Prince William Sound!
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
GldstrmSam on Jun 5, 2013June 5th, 2013, 10:30 pm EDT
At first I was worried that the water was going to be high and muddy because the Chena river was at flood stage that day, but the water was actually low and clear. I could not have asked for better conditions.
Sounds like you have a blog post to write. :) :)
Sounds like you have a blog post to write. :) :)
There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm. ~Patrick F. McManus
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