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.

The Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River in Alaska

Stream photos

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Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington

As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.

7 Recently Added Photos

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.

What have you been doing?

Crepuscular

Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920

Crepuscular on Jun 6, 2014June 6th, 2014, 7:43 pm EDT

Well, it's been a while since I've reported on what's been happening. I was fortunate enough to spend some time on the Beaverkill, Letort and Penns Creek lately. Fishing was good and I got to experience some phenomenal dry fly fishing to some really nice wild fish. March Browns on the Beaverkill, sulphurs on the Letort and Drakes, Epeorus spinners, and sulphur spinners on Penns.

Beaverkill:

Penns:

Gutcutter with a drake eater

Wbranch

York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635

Wbranch on Jun 6, 2014June 6th, 2014, 11:49 pm EDT

Wow, you are having a great year! You must be a happy guy.

Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197

Shawnny3 on Jun 7, 2014June 7th, 2014, 4:40 am EDT

Excellent catch. Nice photos, too.

-Shawn

Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com

Martinlf

Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047

Martinlf on Jun 7, 2014June 7th, 2014, 5:05 am EDT

Great photos and some fine fishing!

I've fished sulphurs, olives, and Hendrickson spinners on the East Branch of the Delaware, March Browns on the Beaverkill, then caddis and sulphurs on the Main Stem of the Delaware. Visited a bit with Matt up there at his cabin on the West Branch. Then sulphurs and Grey Fox on the Little J, and Drakes on Penns. It has been very good.

"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

Crepuscular

Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920

Crepuscular on Jun 7, 2014June 7th, 2014, 5:51 am EDT

Excellent catch. Nice photos, too.

-Shawn

Thanks Shawn!

Great photos and some fine fishing!

I've fished sulphurs, olives, and Hendrickson spinners on the East Branch of the Delaware, March Browns on the Beaverkill, then caddis and sulphurs on the Main Stem of the Delaware. Visited a bit with Matt up there at his cabin on the West Branch. Then sulphurs and Grey Fox on the Little J, and Drakes on Penns. It has been very good.

Nice Louis! Sounds like we're on a similar plan! And you're right, it's been some fine fishing.

PaulRoberts

Colorado

Posts: 1776

PaulRoberts on Jun 7, 2014June 7th, 2014, 9:49 pm EDT

Wonderful. Rather silvery browns on the Beaverkill.

Crepuscular

Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920

Crepuscular on Jun 8, 2014June 8th, 2014, 4:51 am EDT

Wonderful. Rather silvery browns on the Beaverkill.

Yes I thought so too.

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Jun 8, 2014June 8th, 2014, 10:01 pm EDT

Very nice, Eric! I especially like the photo of the drake posing on bamboo.

"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

Kschaefer3

St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376

Kschaefer3 on Jun 9, 2014June 9th, 2014, 6:39 am EDT

Wow! A whole slew of nice fish. The rivers look beautiful as well.

I have been patiently waiting for fish poking their noses up consistently. That has not happened yet, or at least I haven't found them.

Crepuscular

Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920

Crepuscular on Jun 9, 2014June 9th, 2014, 8:29 am EDT

Very nice, Eric! I especially like the photo of the drake posing on bamboo.

Thanks Kurt. I have them trained to land right where I want them and then sit and stay. ;)

Crepuscular

Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920

Crepuscular on Jun 9, 2014June 9th, 2014, 8:34 am EDT

Wow! A whole slew of nice fish. The rivers look beautiful as well.

I have been patiently waiting for fish poking their noses up consistently. That has not happened yet, or at least I haven't found them.

Thanks. You know I've been lucky so far this year. There have been several occations where we have been finding plenty of surface feeding fish, when, on the same day and same river, others have been having difficulty finding rising fish.

Kschaefer3

St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376

Kschaefer3 on Jun 9, 2014June 9th, 2014, 9:25 am EDT

Wow! A whole slew of nice fish. The rivers look beautiful as well.

I have been patiently waiting for fish poking their noses up consistently. That has not happened yet, or at least I haven't found them.

Thanks. You know I've been lucky so far this year. There have been several occations where we have been finding plenty of surface feeding fish, when, on the same day and same river, others have been having difficulty finding rising fish.

Luck plays a part in all fishing, no doubt.

I think your knowledge, and time on the water, tend to stack luck in your favor though.

Crepuscular

Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920

Crepuscular on Jun 9, 2014June 9th, 2014, 10:08 am EDT

Like Lefty Gomez said, "I'd rather be lucky than good". ;)

Jmd123

Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474

Jmd123 on Jun 9, 2014June 9th, 2014, 4:48 pm EDT

"I'd rather be lucky than good".

Eric, I'd have to say that you're both, at least from the pictures...beautiful big fat fish, I am totally envious as you've seen what I've been catching lately...

Kyle, same here, hatches are ssssslllloooooowwwwww this season. Hopefully things will pick up soon!

Jonathon

No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...

Kschaefer3

St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376

Kschaefer3 on Jun 10, 2014June 10th, 2014, 5:54 am EDT

Eric - I agree with that! Like Jonathon said, I think you may be both, so that's even better yet.

Jonathon - The biggest problem is that I've seen bugs. Sometimes lots of them. Last time I fished my favorite river there were caddis everywhere and a healthy amount of hennies, but no fish looking up. This last weekend, plenty of caddis around and some large (#12) yellow mayflies. Again, no fish looking up. Good thing I enjoy fishing streamers too!

Gus