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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.

Lateral view of a Male Callibaetis ferrugineus (Baetidae) (Speckled Dun) Mayfly Spinner from Mystery Creek #304 in Idaho
This is one of four specimens I photographed together from the same hatch, also including a nymph, a male dun, and a female dun. According to the key in Check (1982), the clear wing venation on the associated dun shows that it is either Callibaetis ferrugineous or Callibaetis pallidus, and the characteristics to tell the difference between those two are maddening for both the nymph and adult. If the partial shading in the wing is "medium to dark brown," and the dots on the body are "fuscous to dark brown," then it's ferrugineous. If the wing shading is "chestnut brown" and dots on the body are "yellowish to chestnut brown," then it's pallidus. However, several spare specimens I collected alongside the one in the photo have no markings on the wing at all, which would seemingly indicate ferrugineous according to the key. It's enough for a contingent ID, but I still wouldn't rule out pallidus.
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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Landscape & scenery photos from Miscellaneous

Richardson Highway in Alaska
Richardson Highway in Alaska
Richardson Highway in Alaska
Here's a nice view of the Alyeska Pipeline from the highway.

From Richardson Highway in Alaska
The Gulkana Glacier is an iconic landmark for north-bound travelers (or, I suppose, south-bound travelers looking north) on the Richardson Highway.  Thankfully, its silty runoff drains not into the Gulkana River drainage but into Phelan Creek in the Yukon drainage instead.

From Richardson Highway near Summit Lake in Alaska
Richardson Highway in Alaska
Baby moose along an Alaskan highway.

From Richardson Highway in Alaska
Here's a panorama of the Wrangell Mountains, viewed from a pullout overlooking Willow Lake along the Richardson Highway near Glennallen, Alaska.  A day this clear is rare, and the view is spectacular.  You have to view it full-sized to begin to appreciate what it's like scanning this range with binoculars.

From Richardson Highway in Alaska
Richardson Highway in Alaska
Rainbow Mountain in the Alaska Range, one of the prettiest pieces of the Richardson Highway.

From Richardson Highway in Alaska
Richardson Highway in Alaska
Old and new

From Kotzebue in Alaska
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