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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 Epeorus albertae (Heptageniidae) (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph from the East Fork Issaquah Creek in Washington
This specimen keys to the Epeorus albertae group of species. Of the five species in that group, the two known in Washington state are Epeorus albertae and Epeorus dulciana. Of the two, albertae has been collected in vastly more locations in Washington than dulciana, suggesting it is far more common. On that basis alone I'm tentatively putting this nymph in albertae, with the large caveat that there's no real information to rule out dulciana.
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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Fly Fishing and Trout Prey Videos

Fly Fishing and Trout Prey Videos

One of the most important things to a choosy trout is the one thing my close-up pictures can't show: motion. Fly tyers imitate motion by using lively materials, and fly anglers imitate it with subtle rod-work, but both need to understand how the real critters move. Most of these were shot long ago with an ancient digital camera.

Isonychia nymph swimming around

These nymphs may be the best swimmers of all North American mayflies.

Another Hexagenia
Ephemera 2

This little Ephemera nymph swam around for a while and tried to burrow into the sand in my photography tank.

Pteronarcys
Damselfly Nymph on the Prowl

Damselfly nymphs are among the most effective invertebrate predators in freshwater. You have to see one in motion to get a feel for their slow, deliberate style of stalking.

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