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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 Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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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Wbranch has attached these 5 pictures to this report. The message is below.

Report at a Glance

General RegionBetween Balls Eddy & Route 191 bridge
Specific LocationUndisclosed
Dates FishedMay 29 - 30
Time of Day8:00 - 1:00 & 4:00 - 8:00
Fish CaughtWild browns and rainbows
Conditions & HatchesOvercast, zero wind, flow between 420 & 650 cfs due to T-storms. March Browns, Olives, Caddis, Sulfurs.

Details and Discussion

Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jun 1, 2017June 1st, 2017, 4:38 pm EDT
A wonderful two days of cooperative rising wild trout. Rose about sixteen trout. Hooked a dozen and landed nine. The browns were all 16" - 20" and the rainbows 15" - 16". No pressure. Only myself and my best friend of 55 years on over 1/4 mile or river.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
David82nd
David82nd's profile picture
Upstate,New York

Posts: 63
David82nd on Jun 1, 2017June 1st, 2017, 11:10 pm EDT
That's a great day , beautiful fish. Looks like you did you're homework.
Partsman
Partsman's profile picture
bancroft michigan

Posts: 321
Partsman on Jun 5, 2017June 5th, 2017, 2:11 pm EDT
Beautiful pics, and a good looking outfit!
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jun 5, 2017June 5th, 2017, 3:12 pm EDT
I really love the set-up; Orvis Helios 2 9' #4 Tip flex, 4 pcs. with a Lamson Speedster reel and an Orvis HD WF#4 line. I can throw a 15' 5X leader and a #18 fly 50' with ease.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

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