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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Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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Jbaiocchi on Dec 19, 2014December 19th, 2014, 7:30 am EST
Hello, I just wanted to introduce myself to the forum. I've been coming to Troutnut.com for years but now have finally joined. I appreciate this site as it is a great resource for my work. Check out my profile page to learn about myself.
-Jon.
-Jon.
I fish, I write, and I'm hungry for more! http://jonbaiocchiflyfishingnews.blogspot.com/
Crepuscular on Dec 19, 2014December 19th, 2014, 2:01 pm EST
Welcome Jon! Nice to see another troutnut from the west coast. Balances out all of us here with an east coast bias.
Eric
Eric
Jbaiocchi on Dec 19, 2014December 19th, 2014, 8:59 pm EST
Thanks for the welcome Eric. Been getting some much needed rain on the west coast, soon as the Lower Yuba clears I'm out there. Skwala stones are getting ready to pop!
I fish, I write, and I'm hungry for more! http://jonbaiocchiflyfishingnews.blogspot.com/
Wbranch on Dec 20, 2014December 20th, 2014, 7:52 am EST
Hello Jon, Welcome to Troutnut.com. This is a great site if you are interested in entomology in order to enhance your fly fishing success or if you just happen to enjoy studying those insects. I'm sure we would all enjoy hearing about your adventures in Northern California and some fish porn is very welcome too!
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Jbaiocchi on Dec 20, 2014December 20th, 2014, 1:20 pm EST
Thanks Wbranch, I'm a nutcase when it comes to aquatics, Studying the bugs sometimes is more important to me than the actual fishing. Not trying to get more exposure or "sell" by any means, but you can always check in on my blog which I update on a weekly basis.
Tight lines - J.
Tight lines - J.
I fish, I write, and I'm hungry for more! http://jonbaiocchiflyfishingnews.blogspot.com/
Troutnut on Dec 20, 2014December 20th, 2014, 1:52 pm EST
Welcome Jon!
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Taxon on Dec 20, 2014December 20th, 2014, 2:03 pm EST
Studying the bugs sometimes is more important to me than the actual fishing.
Me too. Welcome aboard, Jon.
Wbranch on Dec 20, 2014December 20th, 2014, 4:45 pm EST
Studying the bugs sometimes is more important to me than the actual fishing
I wish there were more guys like you so there would be fewer people on the rivers I fish!
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Jbaiocchi on Dec 21, 2014December 21st, 2014, 12:37 pm EST
Thanks Jason, this site is absolutely the best. You have a special mayfly listed on here that we have in a small tributary of the South Fork Yuba, Drunella Pelosa. I've only found a few nymphs, and have no idea what the adult looks like. There is not much info on the net about this bug, except yours.
Roger, Thank you!
-J.
Roger, Thank you!
-J.
I fish, I write, and I'm hungry for more! http://jonbaiocchiflyfishingnews.blogspot.com/
Oldredbarn on Dec 21, 2014December 21st, 2014, 1:12 pm EST
Jon,
Welcome aboard. Like you I visited this site for quite sometime before I even noticed there was a blog...I haven't shut up since! ;) Ok. No noise from the peanut gallery! :)
For the most part we are well behaved...When we act up Jason puts us in "Time Out".
I'm not all that familiar with your part of the country. Maybe you could tells us about it. Looks nice.
Spence
Welcome aboard. Like you I visited this site for quite sometime before I even noticed there was a blog...I haven't shut up since! ;) Ok. No noise from the peanut gallery! :)
For the most part we are well behaved...When we act up Jason puts us in "Time Out".
I'm not all that familiar with your part of the country. Maybe you could tells us about it. Looks nice.
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
Wbranch on Dec 21, 2014December 21st, 2014, 2:50 pm EST
...I haven't shut up since! ;)
No, that can't be true..............you are just so quiet and nobody knows you are even here!
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Feathers5
Posts: 287
Posts: 287
Feathers5 on Dec 22, 2014December 22nd, 2014, 4:21 am EST
Welcome, John. There are very nice and helpful people on this site.
P.S.
I'd be more than willing to identify bugs for you.
P.S.
I'd be more than willing to identify bugs for you.
Martinlf on Dec 22, 2014December 22nd, 2014, 6:29 am EST
Who's Spence?
Oh, welcome Jon--and if Feathers5 identifies any bugs for you--get a second opinion.
Oh, welcome Jon--and if Feathers5 identifies any bugs for you--get a second opinion.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Jbaiocchi on Dec 22, 2014December 22nd, 2014, 8:31 am EST
Spence, Feather55, Martinif, Thanks for the welcome.
In Spence's request about the land that I'm from I'll tell you this. There is so much water here that it is staggering to say the least. You could not fish all of it in your lifetime, it’ just not possible. In Northern California we have some major rivers like the Sacramento, Feather, Truckee, Yuba, And the American. Each one of these rivers has branches, especially the Feather and the Yuba. Each of these branches and the main river has hundreds of tributaries that flow into them, all fishable, all holding wild trout. The Northern Sierra is an awesome land, clean granite, and lush green coniferous forests, littered with wild beasts, and critters beyond belief. Yeah, there is a big population here but many do not appreciate the wilderness, and with that, solitude and willing fish to the dry fly is always available. Wild flowers beyond belief, super hatches, and adventure is a common thing for those that look. As a native Northern Californian, I take real pride in this land and what it can share with us, and what it can teach. It is an awesome part of this place we call earth.
As far as bug Identification and behavior, I have found this philosophy to be true. Never put rules, limits, and timing on Mother Nature. She’ll hand you your ass and break all the rules, not some of the time, but all of the time. Every day is different, and those anglers who can adapt and change, lead a more successful trip on the water. – J.
In Spence's request about the land that I'm from I'll tell you this. There is so much water here that it is staggering to say the least. You could not fish all of it in your lifetime, it’ just not possible. In Northern California we have some major rivers like the Sacramento, Feather, Truckee, Yuba, And the American. Each one of these rivers has branches, especially the Feather and the Yuba. Each of these branches and the main river has hundreds of tributaries that flow into them, all fishable, all holding wild trout. The Northern Sierra is an awesome land, clean granite, and lush green coniferous forests, littered with wild beasts, and critters beyond belief. Yeah, there is a big population here but many do not appreciate the wilderness, and with that, solitude and willing fish to the dry fly is always available. Wild flowers beyond belief, super hatches, and adventure is a common thing for those that look. As a native Northern Californian, I take real pride in this land and what it can share with us, and what it can teach. It is an awesome part of this place we call earth.
As far as bug Identification and behavior, I have found this philosophy to be true. Never put rules, limits, and timing on Mother Nature. She’ll hand you your ass and break all the rules, not some of the time, but all of the time. Every day is different, and those anglers who can adapt and change, lead a more successful trip on the water. – J.
I fish, I write, and I'm hungry for more! http://jonbaiocchiflyfishingnews.blogspot.com/
Wbranch on Dec 22, 2014December 22nd, 2014, 9:13 am EST
Sounds like a great place for me to visit with my wife and stay a couple of weeks to fish some of those rivers. What is a good airport to fly into so I wouldn't have to drive more than 100 miles to some town I could base out of?
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Feathers5
Posts: 287
Posts: 287
Feathers5 on Dec 22, 2014December 22nd, 2014, 9:28 am EST
Who's Spence?
Oh, welcome Jon--and if Feathers5 identifies any bugs for you--get a second opinion.
I resemble those remarks.
Oldredbarn on Dec 22, 2014December 22nd, 2014, 6:45 pm EST
Sounds nice Jon...Kurt has tried to get me out that way from time to time. Maybe someday...I remember reading Randal Kaufmann's stories about fishing alpine lakes up in the rockies...
Thanks for sharing.
Spence
Thanks for sharing.
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
Jbaiocchi on Dec 23, 2014December 23rd, 2014, 3:10 pm EST
Wbranch,
Fly into Reno, Nv. The big Truckee river is right there and continues all the way upstream to the town of Truckee with miles of water to fish. The Little Truckee is 45 minutes away. Lake Davis, one hour. The Middle Fork Feather, a little over an hour. Pyramid Lake 45 minutes. North Fork Yuba, 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Like I said there is so much water here to fish, to explore, and the hatches are out of this world at times.
Fly into Reno, Nv. The big Truckee river is right there and continues all the way upstream to the town of Truckee with miles of water to fish. The Little Truckee is 45 minutes away. Lake Davis, one hour. The Middle Fork Feather, a little over an hour. Pyramid Lake 45 minutes. North Fork Yuba, 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Like I said there is so much water here to fish, to explore, and the hatches are out of this world at times.
I fish, I write, and I'm hungry for more! http://jonbaiocchiflyfishingnews.blogspot.com/
Gus on Jan 23, 2015January 23rd, 2015, 2:04 pm EST
Welcome Jon!
"How do you help that son of a bitch?"
"By taking him fishing"
-A River Runs Through It
www.jsrods.com
"By taking him fishing"
-A River Runs Through It
www.jsrods.com
Entoman on Jan 23, 2015January 23rd, 2015, 4:47 pm EST
I don't know how I missed this! Welcome, Jon. Nice to have another native Californian aboard.
Remember this is a public forum. Don't supply too much info! LOL :)
Remember this is a public forum. Don't supply too much info! LOL :)
"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
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