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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.

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington
As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.
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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Wiflyfisher has attached this picture to aid in identification. The message is below.
Western Caddisfly adult
Wiflyfisher
Wiflyfisher's profile picture
Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Jul 23, 2007July 23rd, 2007, 3:06 pm EDT
The caddisfly in the photo produced a heavy hatch and egg laying on the Henry's Fork River in the riffled water areas. It also appeared to put sticky yellow blobs of eggs all over our waders too!

Any thoughts on what this is?
GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681
GONZO on Jul 23, 2007July 23rd, 2007, 3:40 pm EDT
John, this isn't a hydroptilid; they are very small (under 5mm) and very hairy. It's a hydropsychid, but maybe one of the experts will have a better idea about species.
Taxon
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Site Editor
Plano, TX

Posts: 1311
Taxon on Jul 23, 2007July 23rd, 2007, 6:27 pm EDT
I believe it to be a Spotted Sedge (Hydropsyche), likely H. occidentalis, if you encounteded a heavy emergence of them on the Henry's Fork.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
Wiflyfisher
Wiflyfisher's profile picture
Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Jul 24, 2007July 24th, 2007, 1:22 am EDT
Yes, there was at times a heavy emergence of these caddis on the Fork.

Thank you!

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