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.

The North Fork Couer d'Alene River in Idaho

Stream photos

Featured on the forum

Re: Trico emergers
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Bwoklink (Martinlf replied)

Re: Trico Tips
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Martinlf

Re: UV spectrum and trout
In General Discussion by Martinlf

Re: closing the gender gap in flyfishing
In General Discussion by Konchu (Smallflyguy replied)

Re: Fishing Kupa River, Slovenia
In Fishing Reports by Slocum (Fish1 replied)

Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult

Lateral view of a Female Sweltsa borealis (Chloroperlidae) (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from Harris Creek in Washington

I was not fishing, but happened to be at an unrelated social event on a hill above this tiny creek (which I never even saw) when this stonefly flew by me. I assume it came from there. Some key characteristics are tricky to follow, but process of elimination ultimately led me to Sweltsa borealis. It is reassuringly similar to this specimen posted by Bob Newell years ago. It is also so strikingly similar to this nymph from the same river system that I'm comfortable identifying that nymph from this adult. I was especially pleased with the closeup photo of four mites parasitizing this one.

15 Recently Added Photos

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.

Tiny Blue Winged Olives

TimCat

Alanson, MI

Posts: 121

TimCat on May 1, 2016May 1st, 2016, 5:58 pm EDT

I fished the Black River in Michigan about a half hour from gaylord this Saturday morning. The only bugs I "recognized" on the surface were some sporadic Blue-Winged Olives coming off the surface. Not much of a hatch in the classic sense, and no fish were rising either. The water was just above 40 degrees F. As a novice, I am not positive this was baetis or baetidae, but they were green mayflies with purpleish and pinkish wings. These guys were tiny. If I had to guess a hook size for them it would be 24-26 or smaller. Is this possible for BWOs or am I mistaken? I always thought they weren't much smaller than size 18.

Sorry I don't have any pictures, but even if I took the time to take one, my phone would not be able to focus on something that small.

"If I'm not going to catch anything, then I 'd rather not catch anything on flies" - Bob Lawless

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on May 1, 2016May 1st, 2016, 6:27 pm EDT

No, you are probably right about them being baetids, though the odds are they probably aren't in the genus Baetis. The wing color you noticed sounds like a description of spinner wings in the right light conditions.

"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

TimCat

Alanson, MI

Posts: 121

TimCat on May 2, 2016May 2nd, 2016, 3:27 pm EDT

Gotcha. Thanks for the reply. I was just surprised to see them being so small. I had nothing in my box even remotely close to that size, not even trico patterns.

"If I'm not going to catch anything, then I 'd rather not catch anything on flies" - Bob Lawless