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.

A beautiful braided reach of the Sag River, with the Philip Smith Mountains in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in the background.

From the Sagavanirktok River in Alaska

Stream photos

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Grammotaulius betteni (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva Grammotaulius betteni (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Grammotaulius betteni (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

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.

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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 pattern is this?

Stawheed has attached this picture to aid in identification. The message is below.

Stawheed
Kashmir

Posts: 2

Stawheed on May 13, 2015May 13th, 2015, 5:02 am EDT

I am sorry if this is not the correct section but I can seem to find the appropriate section for questions regarding fly pattern identification.

I need to know the fly pattern name for the picture below.

Wbranch

York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635

Wbranch on May 13, 2015May 13th, 2015, 8:20 am EDT

I am unfamiliar with this pattern. In the US we have a pattern called the San Juan worm but the only similarity is it is tied entirely with a piece of, usually, brown or pink vernille. Vernille is a material like chenille but with a stiff core. Some fly fishers use it to imitate an earthworm.

I found this comment at another web site;

the more important feature to me is the the core of most chenille is cotton thread and the core of vernille is some sort of plastic thread

That becomes important when tying San Juan Worms or Poopah Caddis patterns. Both patterns call for melting the material so the exposed ends don't unravel. The chenille cotton core burns rather than melting..

Here are two links, one to the San Juan worm and the other to the poopah which imitates caddis pupa.

http://thecatchandthehatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/beadhead-san-juan-worm-red-sku-549h-480x373.jpg

http://stevenojai.tripod.com/poopah.htm

Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on May 13, 2015May 13th, 2015, 11:19 am EDT

Welcome to the forum.

It's a Fox Poopah. Obviously, the micro chenille body and duck flank antennae are grossly over length. I'm wondering about the tier's purpose for this curious distortion...

"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

Stawheed
Kashmir

Posts: 2

Stawheed on May 14, 2015May 14th, 2015, 5:30 am EDT

Thank you guys for the swift reply and warm welcome. I am from Kashmir actually and there isn't much information regarding the fauna around trout streams. From last five years I am gathering information on food habits of trout around different seasons and with this the number of catch has increased but there is still a lot to do. Another worry is people here aren't much worried about the release part so am fighting that battle as well.

Coming to this fly pattern, all flies that are available in here are from UK since the sport was introduced by them during early 20th century and we have been following their Tackle ever since.

Anyways I went to fishing last week and there was this pool with a couple of good brownies and scores of new hatch around 5 inches in size. I tied this fly and the big ones didn't even bother to move but them little ones went mad even when I was retrieving the line for another cast. I felt sortta sad for their inexperience and about the selection of this fly which looked more like a worm than any insect.

Thank you again for the info.