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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 7 pictures. The message is below.
Various PMD spinners
More Montana spinners
You think I like CDC caddis?
Various Hares Ear, Lightning Bugs, caddis pupa, and midge nymphs
More small nymphs
PMD emergers, Split back PMD nymphs, hunchback nymphs
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Mar 10, 2019March 10th, 2019, 11:46 am EDT
A few weeks ago I made a comment about flies and fly boxes and organization to Jon, I mentioned that I would post up a few pictures of my C&F foam micro slit fly boxes. I have five C&F boxes with the middle swing page. Each box has 528 slits. I also have five C&F boxes without the swing leaf. Those boxes could hold up to 264 flies. These flies are just a very small portion of my entire fly collection, probably no more than 10%. I use the C&F boxes for fly sizes #16 - #20. Mostly nymphs and dry flies without hackle.

I'm beginning to think I enjoy tying more than the actual fishing. I can tie through every season and can listen to classical music, or rock & roll, while I tie. I never get frustrated or angry when I miss the "Big One". Hopefully as the weather warms up to the mid to upper 50's the "catching" bug will come over me and I'll get out on the rivers. Until than I'll just keep tying. I tied three dozen Euro nymphs since Friday.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Jmd123
Jmd123's profile picture
Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on Mar 11, 2019March 11th, 2019, 3:03 am EDT
Fabulous, Matt! I need to do the same, took a bunch of photos of my open boxes but haven't gotten them on here yet. It is very satisfying to open a bunch of fly boxes and admire your own work, especially when you've been doing it for a looooong time. And they even catch fish too!

Thanks for sharing!

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Partsman
Partsman's profile picture
bancroft michigan

Posts: 321
Partsman on Mar 11, 2019March 11th, 2019, 2:13 pm EDT
Love it, now we need some weather to get out and use the flies we have been tying!

Mike.
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Mar 11, 2019March 11th, 2019, 4:20 pm EDT
Hi Mike,

I'm pretty sure I'm headed you to the Lake Erie streams for steelhead Wednesday through Friday. Looks like nice weather all three days, 50 - 60 degrees. If I go, and have success, I'll post some pictures.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

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