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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This is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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Report at a Glance
| General Region | Lake Erie tributaries |
| Specific Location | Twenty Mile Creek and Elk Creek |
| Dates Fished | Novemeber 05 - 07 |
| Time of Day | 7:00 - 5:00 |
| Fish Caught | Fresh Chrome and some colored up fish |
| Conditions & Hatches | Lower than desired and stained on Wednesday. Big drop in temperature on Friday gave the fish lockjaw. |
Details and Discussion
Wbranch on Nov 8, 2014November 8th, 2014, 5:35 am EST
Made another trip up to the Lake Erie tributaries. Far fewer fish overall (chrome and older fish) than in many prior trips. We really had to work for the fish we caught but from talking to other guys I feel we were high rods on the creeks for the three days we fished. There were three of us and I'd venture to say we hooked at least 30 steelhead.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Oldredbarn on Nov 8, 2014November 8th, 2014, 12:38 pm EST
Nice Matt!
Spence
Spence
"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
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Wiflyfisher on Nov 8, 2014November 8th, 2014, 1:08 pm EST
It looks like your work (or is it called play) really paid off. Very nice!
John S.
https://WiFlyFisher.com
https://WiFlyFisher.com
Wbranch on Nov 8, 2014November 8th, 2014, 2:05 pm EST
It really was work! Getting up at 5:00 a.m. so we could get a shower (too exhausted at night), have breakfast and get to the river at first light, walk up to two miles, then high stick nymphs and swing little emerald shiner patterns all day. But as tiring as it is I do love it as much as dry fly fishing to big rising trout. The PA Erie fish are smaller than the NYS Cattaraugus Creek fish or the Lake Ontario steelhead. However if one is willing to walk a mile or more beyond the parking access you can find really isolated sections of the river with high cliffs, long emerald green pools, and swift water riffles with opportunities for the occasional 9# - 10# steelhead.
I'd guess my colored up buck is about 7#.
I'd guess my colored up buck is about 7#.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Entoman on Nov 8, 2014November 8th, 2014, 6:38 pm EST
Tremendous, Matt. Swinging streamers, huh? Can you write about that a bit?
"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
Wbranch on Nov 9, 2014November 9th, 2014, 5:58 am EST
Okay Kurt, I'll do that soon. I have some projects here at home that might consume much of today.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
PaulRoberts on Nov 13, 2014November 13th, 2014, 1:42 pm EST
Wonderful Matt. I do miss it so. I too fished streamers of all sizes, as well as wets, nymphs and eggs. Can't wait to hear about the emerald shiners.
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