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.

View from atop the permafrost slump

From the Selawik River in Alaska

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)

Onocosmoecus (Great Late-Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Onocosmoecus (Great Late-Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Lateral view of a Onocosmoecus (Limnephilidae) (Great Late-Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

This specimen keys pretty easily to Onocosmoecus, and it closely resembles a specimen from Alaska which caddis expert Dave Ruiter recognized as this genus. As with that specimen, the only species in the genus documented in this area is Onocosmoecus unicolor, but Dave suggested for that specimen that there might be multiple not-yet-distinguished species under the unicolor umbrella and it would be best to stick with the genus-level ID. I'm doing the same for this one.

9 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.

Should have known, Page 2

LBrain

Birdsboro, PA

Posts: 10

LBrain on Mar 3, 2017March 3rd, 2017, 10:32 am EST

Nice flies... question: I noticed the barbless, is it my imagination or are barbless flies still a rarity to purchase?

I'm gonna start learning to tie. I have a bunch of 'stuff' but need hooks. TCO carries a lot of hooks but when I was there a couple weeks ago I hadn't delved into the tying aspect of things. Just curious, as I believe most crush the barb, why don't 'they' sell more barbless flies?

Brain

Wbranch

York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635

Wbranch on Mar 3, 2017March 3rd, 2017, 12:13 pm EST

LBrain,

why don't 'they' sell more barbless flies?

Partridge SLD2 #10 - #18 - Barbless dry fly hooks
Partridge K4AY #8 - #16 - Standard caddis, scud, shrimp hooks
Partridge K5AY #8 - #16 - Same as above but heavier shank
Daiichi 1190 #8 - #24 - Standard dry fly hooks
Tiemco 113BLH #12 - #20 1X heavy nymph, scud hooks
Tiemco 226BL #12 - #22 1X fine caddis, emergers, parachute dry fly hooks

There are other styles and sizes but this list shows you there are quite a few barbless hooks styles and sizes available. PM me if you want the web address.

Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

Iasgair

Colorado

Posts: 148

Iasgair on Mar 3, 2017March 3rd, 2017, 1:20 pm EST

Wbranch just gave you a great list of hooks. Partridge is my favorite. It's only my opinion, but don't waste time on purchasing barbless hooks. Just get a barb crusher and mash the barbs down. Barbless hooks cost more, but it's entirely your decision.

I am glad to see you're choosing to go barbless and thinking of the welfare of the fish. Good job!

Crepuscular

Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920

Crepuscular on Mar 3, 2017March 3rd, 2017, 2:28 pm EST

why don't 'they' sell more barbless flies?

not everyone wants a barbless hook, and barbless hooks are a little more expensive which would equate to a more expensive fly.

I am glad to see you're choosing to go barbless and thinking of the welfare of the fish. Good job!

the fish? oh yeah i guess I'm worried about their welfare ;) but not as much as my own, barbless hooks are much easier to extract from an ear than ones with a barb.

Wbranch

York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635

Wbranch on Mar 3, 2017March 3rd, 2017, 2:30 pm EST