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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 Zapada cinctipes (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Nymphs of this species were fairly common in late-winter kick net samples from the upper Yakima River. Although I could not find a key to species of Zapada nymphs, a revision of the Nemouridae family by Baumann (1975) includes the following helpful sentence: "2 cervical gills on each side of midline, 1 arising inside and 1 outside of lateral cervical sclerites, usually single and elongate, sometimes constricted but with 3 or 4 branches arising beyond gill base in Zapada cinctipes." This specimen clearly has the branches and is within the range of that species.
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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By Troutnut on August 5th, 2020
Continuing my western explorations, I woke at 7 am to wander up a beautiful little stream in the big mountains. The pictures speak for themselves. Brook trout were few and far between, but I caught a few.

I also checked out Valley Creek, near the trailhead at the upper end of the road. It was slow fishing for small trout, and I finally landed a 6" brookie after a few missed strikes, just to keep the no-skunking streak going.

Photos by Troutnut from Mystery Creek #256 and Valley Creek in Idaho

Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Valley Creek in Idaho
Valley Creek in Idaho
Valley Creek in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Brook trout
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Lewis's Monkeyflower growing alongside the stream. I think this is the only one I saw on the entire trip.

From Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho
Mystery Creek # 256 in Idaho

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Martinlf
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Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Aug 17, 2020August 17th, 2020, 3:58 am EDT
Stunning scenery. Great adventures!
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

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