Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.
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It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.
I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.
The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.
Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.
The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.
Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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JOHNW on Aug 30, 2007August 30th, 2007, 10:32 am EDT
So I'm heading West next summer to chase westslopes and hopefully a bull trout or two. I have been told the river we'll be on (South Fork Flathead) has a fair population of golden stones. What Patterns do you all reccomend?
I'm not necessarily looking for ties that will try to crawl away with the fly box, just hose that will leave some cutt's with aching jaws.
Thanks in advance,
JW
I'm not necessarily looking for ties that will try to crawl away with the fly box, just hose that will leave some cutt's with aching jaws.
Thanks in advance,
JW
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn
Softhackle on Aug 30, 2007August 30th, 2007, 12:00 pm EDT
Hi John,
It has always been my contention that stoneflies are difficult to fish as dry flies unless they are laying eggs or there's a good wind blowing. Underwater imitations have always worked better for me. For surface fishing, I like this style of fly tied in the appropriate color of course. While it's called a sedge, in the right size, it easily passes for a stonefly adult:
http://www.danica.com/flytier/rwyatt/deer_hair_sedge.htm
For underwater use, again, tied in the correct size and color this has taken fish for me: PS you could add biot tails if you like:
http://troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/html/blk__stone.html
Good fishing on your trip,
Mark
It has always been my contention that stoneflies are difficult to fish as dry flies unless they are laying eggs or there's a good wind blowing. Underwater imitations have always worked better for me. For surface fishing, I like this style of fly tied in the appropriate color of course. While it's called a sedge, in the right size, it easily passes for a stonefly adult:
http://www.danica.com/flytier/rwyatt/deer_hair_sedge.htm
For underwater use, again, tied in the correct size and color this has taken fish for me: PS you could add biot tails if you like:
http://troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/html/blk__stone.html
Good fishing on your trip,
Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty." Edward R. Hewitt
Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
Martinlf on Aug 31, 2007August 31st, 2007, 8:04 am EDT
For a dry, try this:
http://www.westfly.com/patterns/dry/clarks.shtml
It worked for me on the Firehole.
http://www.westfly.com/patterns/dry/clarks.shtml
It worked for me on the Firehole.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Shawnny3 on Aug 31, 2007August 31st, 2007, 8:40 am EDT
Nice pattern suggestions, guys.
Louis, I found it a bit ironic that the link you posted shows beautiful pictures from three different angles of that dry fly... and none of them were from underneath. I guess we're to presume that it looks so good from every other angle that it's inconsequential how it looks from the point of view of an actual fish.
Thank goodness for Jason's site.
-Shawn
Louis, I found it a bit ironic that the link you posted shows beautiful pictures from three different angles of that dry fly... and none of them were from underneath. I guess we're to presume that it looks so good from every other angle that it's inconsequential how it looks from the point of view of an actual fish.
Thank goodness for Jason's site.
-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
www.davisflydesigns.com
JOHNW on Aug 31, 2007August 31st, 2007, 10:30 am EDT
Me thinks I should have been a little clearer. I'm a "fat little kid" so my interest was directed more toward subsurface patterns. My personal favorite is Clayton Peters wooven Perla but at close to 45 minutes per tie you can see where it may be a bit daunting and definatly not in the realm of "easy" ties.
As an aside has anyone ever given LaFontaines natural drift stone a try?
JW
As an aside has anyone ever given LaFontaines natural drift stone a try?
JW
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn
Martinlf on Sep 1, 2007September 1st, 2007, 4:23 am EDT
OK John, try this; take a look at
http://www.westfly.com/patterns/patterns.shtml
Go to the second pull down menu, select Golden Stonefly and hit go. That should give you plenty to consider, just click on the patterns you want to check out, and I'm sure you will pick something that fits the bill.
And your waders don't make you look fat. :)
http://www.westfly.com/patterns/patterns.shtml
Go to the second pull down menu, select Golden Stonefly and hit go. That should give you plenty to consider, just click on the patterns you want to check out, and I'm sure you will pick something that fits the bill.
And your waders don't make you look fat. :)
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Sayfu
Posts: 560
Posts: 560
Sayfu on Sep 2, 2012September 2nd, 2012, 10:46 am EDT
What I call my Golden Stone dry is my go to searching pattern all Summer long on the SF of the Snake. A stimulator style downwing without a palmered hackle through the body, in a tanish yellow I will call it in a #10 2xl hook. I use Mustad 94831's. Being exact doesn't seem to matter that much. It's what I throw along the bank runs. My thinking is...fish see two goldens throughout the Summer if you include Classenia as a late golden. Then there are yellow bodied PMD's, and PED's throughout the Summer so a yellow predominates the color. Even the hoppers are a tan body. When I float with my wife she has to have on one of those down wing goldens, or she has little confidence. The forward hackle?..Can be a medium dun, barred Ginger I often use, and I trim it under to sit it low in the water.
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