Header image
Enter a name
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.

Dorsal view of a Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
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.
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.

Report at a Glance

General RegionBath County VA
Specific LocationUpper Jackson River
Dates Fished13 October 2015
Time of Day0900-1400
Fish CaughtSmall rainbows
Conditions & HatchesLow, slow, leafy, and very clear. Plenty of hoppers in the grass. Small fry and sculpins.

Details and Discussion

Dkinva
Posts: 9
Dkinva on Oct 14, 2015October 14th, 2015, 7:03 am EDT
Spent about four hours on the river. First time there and a four hour drive. As a novice I wanted to run a scouting mission to set up a longer stay so made the excuse to see the leaves, which were beautiful, and took the wife along. She's not a fly fisher person by the way and so it was a doddle trip. I carried an extra rod and lawn chair for her. I cringed every time she tried to cast it like a spinning rig. And, true to form she abandoned me after about 30 minutes and headed for the van.

I didn't make it up to the special section (a 1.7 mile hike) for the aforementioned reasons, but saw enough to see it will be worth another trip sans wife. Or, a stay in the local bed and breakfast. Ah, romance plus fishing. And, of course the section I did fish was largely devoid of fish but I did manage to pick up two small rainbows.

The river was low slow and very clear. A constant parade of leaves and failing to see any rising fish sent me to the wooly bugger. Next trip will include a day on the special section next May.

And sorry, no pictures. The wife managed the camera and I was a hundred yards away when she decided to head for the van.

Quick Reply

Related Discussions

Topic
Replies
Last Reply
0
Jan 23, 2017
by Leakyboots
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy