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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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Jmd123 has attached this picture. The message is below.
The (AWFUL) view out my front window right now
Jmd123
Jmd123's profile picture
Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on May 10, 2020May 10th, 2020, 2:24 am EDT
I woke up this morning and was horrified. Has time gone backwards? Is it January all over again? The freaking Polar Vortex in MAY??

I'VE ALREADY CAUGHT TROUT ON FLIES, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! WHAT THE F***???

My next move and job will NOT be in Michigan, or any other northern state for that matter. Snow started falling on 1 November last fall...I've about had enough of living where I can't enjoy my favorite hobbies for six months out of the year.

This is just WRONG.

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 May 10, 2020May 10th, 2020, 4:16 am EDT
Oh the horror of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, that really is depressing. We had some snow showers but nothing on the ground. I'm betting though there was snow on the ground at my cabin which is 220 miles north of here and always a cold spot.

I just called a buddy who lives in Delhi, NY and he said there was at least 2" of snow on the ground yesterday and today.

This is the first time in fifty years that I have not yet gone to the Catskills to fish. By the looks of the extended forecast it might not be until a week from tomorrow.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

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