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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.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
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.
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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Tyro
illinois

Posts: 14
Tyro on Jul 7, 2014July 7th, 2014, 3:26 pm EDT
Hi All,

Did anyone out there fish any good Richland County streams last season that they can report on?

I'll be going up to Richland Center right after labor day & would appreciate any advice regarding good fly fishing waters.

Thanks
Kschaefer3
Kschaefer3's profile picture
St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376
Kschaefer3 on Jul 21, 2014July 21st, 2014, 8:07 am EDT
Sorry a little late, I was in MT for two weeks. What type of water are you looking for? Big or small? High numbers or larger fish?
Tyro
illinois

Posts: 14
Tyro on Jul 24, 2014July 24th, 2014, 7:05 am EDT
Kschaefer3,
Thanks for getting back. I haven't fished Wisconsin before, but am eager to try streams like the headwaters of Fancy Creek. I know that early September is generally the hottest time of the season and stream fishing will be chancy at best, but I'm encouraged by reports so far from the Driftless Anglers fly shop. Have you had any experience with other streams in the area?

Thanks
Kschaefer3
Kschaefer3's profile picture
St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376
Kschaefer3 on Jul 24, 2014July 24th, 2014, 7:22 am EDT
I fish the area a bit. I fish Vernon county more, although they are relatively close together. September gets hot, but it is also hopper season! Concentrate on morning and evenings, but you can still catch fish midday (sometimes lots of them). I am not familiar with fancy creek. I'll send a PM shortly with some recommendations.

P.s. Driftless Angler, While a great shop, is overly optimistic with their reports. I'd say use it more as a guide for the stream temps than anything.
Tyro
illinois

Posts: 14
Tyro on Jul 24, 2014July 24th, 2014, 11:33 am EDT
The Wiconsin DNR has done a great job mapping trout streams by class and county. I'll be making Richland Center my base while up there and might make it into Vernon county if time allows.
Kschaefer3
Kschaefer3's profile picture
St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376
Kschaefer3 on Jul 24, 2014July 24th, 2014, 12:05 pm EDT
The Wiconsin DNR has done a great job mapping trout streams by class and county. I'll be making Richland Center my base while up there and might make it into Vernon county if time allows.

I agree. I have spent many hours researching the maps.

They have done an equally good job securing public lands and easements. I appreciate them both a great deal.

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