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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.

Oldredbarn has attached these 2 pictures. The message is below.
Oldredbarn
Oldredbarn's profile picture
Novi, MI

Posts: 2600
Oldredbarn on Jan 24, 2020January 24th, 2020, 9:09 am EST
I'm almost afraid to post this after the above mix up?!

Matt...This past November a friend of mine and I headed up to the Manistee. I have had nice steelhead on the line over the years and watched as they gave me a couple nice jumps and my fly went sailing and away the fish went.

When I hooked this one I knew it was a nice fish and remember saying to myself, "Please don't get off! Please don't get off"!

The second fish was my friends he caught just before lunch...In fact the guide was about to pull over for lunch, had started the grill and had a couple pieces of chicken on it for he and my friend.

Spence
"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Partsman
Partsman's profile picture
bancroft michigan

Posts: 321
Partsman on Jan 24, 2020January 24th, 2020, 1:26 pm EST
Beautiful fish, swinging streamers? Looks like a two hand rod in your picture, do spey cast? I liked to give that a try, maybe next fall.
Mike.
Martinlf
Martinlf's profile picture
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Jan 26, 2020January 26th, 2020, 1:31 pm EST
Gorgeous fish; well done, Spence!
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jan 27, 2020January 27th, 2020, 4:07 am EST
Awesome fish Spence!! Good for you. The fish looks nice and bright. I bet it ran like a freight train. Did you catch it swinging or nymphing (or beading) under a bobber?
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Oldredbarn
Oldredbarn's profile picture
Novi, MI

Posts: 2600
Oldredbarn on Jan 27, 2020January 27th, 2020, 5:41 am EST
Matt. How you been?!

Yes it was a fresh fish. We were on the Manistee between Lake Michigan and Wellston MI. It was a slow morning, but like I said my friend hooked his before lunch and mine wasn’t too far after lunch.

We were running bead eggs below an indicator. The only thing related to “fly fishing” was the rod and reel, and mending techniques to get a good float.

I think the line was a Spey line. The first half, as you laid it out, you mended and the last half was level line. You sort of just painted that on the water, for lack of a better word.

He fought like hell. I’ve only had salmon fight as hard. Every time he saw the boat or the net it would turn and act like it was heading back to Lake Michigan. Almost whipped my ass.
"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jan 28, 2020January 28th, 2020, 4:04 am EST
Spence,

We were running bead eggs below an indicator


Ah, the infamous trout beads! They are like heroin once you get that first hit you just have to get another!

I first put one on about eight years ago and found they were so effective that it seemed pointless to go through the motions of tying on traditional steelhead flies and swinging them or drifting nymphs. Where we fish the bottoms are pure shale and getting snagged is a frequent occurrence. I got tired of losing a dozen or more flies a day. I'd say I use beads 80% of the time and the other 20% I swing a #8 Emerald shiner pattern that is quite effecive.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Jmd123
Jmd123's profile picture
Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on Feb 4, 2020February 4th, 2020, 3:41 am EST
NIIIIICE Spence! Well done, beautiful fish!

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Feb 7, 2020February 7th, 2020, 10:22 am EST
Mike,

Did you get my email with the Paralep emerger pictures?
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

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