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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 Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
I caught this tiny larva without a case, but it seems to key pretty clearly to to Glossosomatidae. From there, the lack of sclerites on the mesonotum points to either Glossosoma or Anagapetus. Although it's difficult to see in a 2D image from the microscope, it's pretty clear in the live 3D view that the pronotum is only excised about 1/3 of its length to accommodate the forecoxa, not 2/3, which points to Glossosoma at Couplet 5 of the Key to Genera of Glossosomatidae Larvae.
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.

Adirman
Adirman's profile picture
Monticello, NY

Posts: 479
Adirman on Jun 14, 2016June 14th, 2016, 5:00 am EDT
Hey Guys, I was fishing last evening on the Willow and noticed the usual stuff that been around lately, a mix of caddis, Slate Drake, Sulfurs, etc. but then i started seeing a few quite large Mayflys float past me. I picked one up to get a good look, it was around a size 10, VERY white, wings looked pretty white too, sorry I dont have a pic, maybe I can get one in a day or 2, any thoughts based on time of year and limited description I provided? Im thinking its a Light Cahill of the Species Macaffertium Ithaca

Thanks,

Adirman
Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344
Millcreek on Jun 14, 2016June 14th, 2016, 6:24 am EDT
Adirman,

Could be Maccaffertium ithaca, also could be Maccaffertium terminatum or Epheron leukon. Also probably others I missed.

Here are some links:

Maccaffertium terminatum - http://www.troutnut.com/hatch/600/Mayfly-Maccaffertium-terminatum

Epheron leukon - http://bugguide.net/node/view/316968/bgimage
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein
Adirman
Adirman's profile picture
Monticello, NY

Posts: 479
Adirman on Jun 16, 2016June 16th, 2016, 7:37 pm EDT
Not Ephoron leukon, too different, either Terminatum or Ithaca I think, was definitely a good sized Mayfly, i thought a 10 when I observed it
PagansMind
PagansMind's profile picture
Pennsylvania

Posts: 2
PagansMind on Jun 22, 2016June 22nd, 2016, 9:22 pm EDT
Light cahills were hatching last week in PA, so it is likely that you are correct. A big one might be a 12.

http://www.djlflyfishers.org/hatches.htm

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