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.

Of all the pools I've fished, this one was most deserving of the colorful little brook trout it held.

From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York

Stream photos

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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.

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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.

Green Drakes

Martinlf has attached this picture to this report. The message is below.

Report at a Glance

General Region	Pennsylvania
Specific Location	Guess
Dates Fished	May 25
Time of Day	Dark thirty
Fish Caught	Browns and Bows
Conditions & Hatches	Green Drakes

Details and Discussion

Martinlf

Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047

Martinlf on Jun 10, 2017June 10th, 2017, 1:52 am EDT

Joined my buddy and best photographer Juraj to fish the Drake. Awesome bug.

"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

David82nd

Upstate,New York

Posts: 63

David82nd on Jun 10, 2017June 10th, 2017, 1:55 am EDT

Nice fish.

Partsman

bancroft michigan

Posts: 321

Partsman on Jun 10, 2017June 10th, 2017, 11:49 am EDT

Wow! Martin, that is one awesome fish. That is what I'm talk about for fishing after dark. The hex will be starting soon here, but last Tuesday I fished all day and into the night. There was a awesome hatch/spinner fall as all the light left. There were fish rising all over the river, but I had a really hard time keeping up with my fly. It still was just a cool day, and night.
Mike.

Troutnut

Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758

Troutnut on Jun 10, 2017June 10th, 2017, 8:48 pm EDT

Nice brown!

Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

Jmd123

Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474

Jmd123 on Jun 11, 2017June 11th, 2017, 10:51 am EDT

Mike, where were you? I was at Sage Lake Road that evening. Not much hatching, some caddis here and there, but plenty of action on the surface. And yes, with the hot weather, the Hex is nigh! Brown drakes too, and even Light Cahills aren't far off now. Match the hatch!!

Nice fishie there, Louis. Keep prowling the night, that time of the season is upon us.

Jonathon

No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...