Satchmo 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2009 Fishing today on the Neshannock Creek in western Pennsylvania and while I tying on a new fly this guy came floating by already half way out of his nymphal husk. What struck me as odd was the size of it. Ive seen the huge Stone Fly husks on the rock walls of the Gunnison River in Colorado but never in Western Pennsylvania. My guess is this guy crawled to the shore edge to emerge but lost his footing and got caught in the current. I placed my finger next to him and a bottle of Xink to size him up with. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
t5f 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2009 Golden Stonefly all the way! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Big E Report post Posted April 25, 2009 Just a guess on my part but I would say an emerging golden stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fairwxflyfish 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2009 Judging from the size compared to the bottle, I would say Salmon fly.. Tie up some big Salmon fly patterns and HOLD ON.. Try the "Thing From Uranus" no kidding look it up.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boynabubble 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2009 That's a Pteronarcys (Salmonfly). Everyone's heard about the big salmonfly hatches out west, but some species can be found all over North America. When I took an Aquatic Entomolgy course a couple years back in Kentucky, we often collected Pteronarcys nymphs 2" or larger in coldwater streams and they were pretty common. When they hatch the can crawl over 10 feet from the stream to hatch and the adults stay in the trees and come out to play after dark. As far as I know, there aren't any major Pteronarcys hatches in the East, the hatches are more spread out and sporadic than in the West. -Cody Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Satchmo 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2009 You have no idea how hard it was to bring myself to google "Thing from Uranus" I was braced for all kinds of horribleness! But, indeed thats the imitation. Heres a good link for comparing a Salmon Fly to a Golden Stone. Ive spent alot of time on this creek and this was the first encounter with a nymph in these water of this size...I'll admit...I was scared. Salmon Vs. Stone Thanks guys for the help. I had fun photographing and watching it try and wiggle out of its skin, and it sure beat getting skunked on the water today. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fairwxflyfish 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2009 You have no idea how hard it was to bring myself to google "Thing from Uranus" I was braced for all kinds of horribleness! But, indeed thats the imitation. I belive this is a Salmon fly and heres a link that has good images of both. Salmon Vs. Stone Great work and thank you guys. I just had no idea flies/nymphs this size were in the Neshannock Creek....I'll admit it....I was scared! I have used "the Thing from uranus" from April to November and it is a great Fly.... have caught Bull Trout, Rainbows, and Cuttbows, and Cutt throut trout.. Damn fine Fly.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
t5f 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2009 Ahh......Salmon Fly All the Way The nymph gives it away. I concede ... I am wrong. :cursing: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Big E Report post Posted April 25, 2009 Nonetheless what it is...that's a kewl series of pics...thanks for sharing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Futzer 0 Report post Posted April 25, 2009 I vote Pteronarcys, it is too large for a golden. Slightly too small for a Californica. Nice photos, thanks. And as Cody stated, colder, clean, and faster moving water and you can have stones anywhere in the US. Cheers, Futzer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Isonychia 0 Report post Posted April 27, 2009 Given that you live in Western Pa., and given that the geography/geology/water quality there are similar to the west slope of the Alleghenies in West Virginia, I'd say you've come across a fine example of Allonarcys biloba, a stonefly very similar to the salmon fly, Pteronarcys californica. Disclaimer: I haven't stayed current on the nomenclature, so it might have changed. John Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taxon 0 Report post Posted April 29, 2009 Given that you live in Western Pa., and given that the geography/geology/water quality there are similar to the west slope of the Alleghenies in West Virginia, I'd say you've come across a fine example of Allonarcys biloba, a stonefly very similar to the salmon fly, Pteronarcys californica. Disclaimer: I haven't stayed current on the nomenclature, so it might have changed. John John- Allonarcys biloba has been reclassified as Pteronarcys biloba (Knobbed Salmonfly), and is one of (5) Pteronarcys species present in Pennsylvania. Can't confirm your identification to species, but at ~62 mm. (my estimate of body length, based on the adjacent floatant dispenser in the photo), it is certainly some species of Pteronarcys, as no other genera of N. American Stoneflies attains a body length in excess of ~36 mm. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Gibbons 0 Report post Posted June 4, 2009 Hey Satchmo, I tried awhile back to access your post on the Stonefly you observed back on Apr. 28? on the Neshannock river,,password problem kept me from the stuff you posted,photos etc. so this am I went to realistic fly tying,saw a pm by Paul vd Driesche,"yet another stonefly". This pm reminded me to get back to your post which I just did. Now here is my story.I snatched a large[ I think] stonefly hatching on the surface Sunday am on the Pequest river near Belvedere,NJ. It was 1-1/2 " very stocky body, a dull med plum cast with a pair of mandibles[ it was biting on my palm as I was observing it's debut]. I showed it to several others who said they had never seen that bug. This bug was causing quite a commotion on the water and I had trepidations about handling it. Aside from this I have seen a few like the one you described and dark ones [smaller] so this one was a new experience. Alas I would have photo'd, but I dunked my P&S last week in the Delaware.btw your photos were great,did you take any with wings developed? Anyway I wish I could get this bug identified. Thanks, Tom. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taxon 0 Report post Posted June 5, 2009 ... Now here is my story.I snatched a large[ I think] stonefly hatching on the surface Sunday am on the Pequest river near Belvedere,NJ. It was 1-1/2 " very stocky body, a dull med plum cast with a pair of mandibles[ it was biting on my palm as I was observing it's debut]. I showed it to several others who said they had never seen that bug. This bug was causing quite a commotion on the water and I had trepidations about handling it. Aside from this I have seen a few like the one you described and dark ones [smaller] so this one was a new experience. Alas I would have photo'd, but I dunked my P&S last week in the Delaware.btw your photos were great,did you take any with wings developed? Anyway I wish I could get this bug identified. Thanks, Tom. Tom- The aquatic insect you are describing, both anatomically and behaviorally, is more likely to be a fishfly (or dobsonfly) larva than it is to be a stonefly nymph. See Aquatic Insect Recognition. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytyinfreak 0 Report post Posted August 27, 2009 That is most definitely a stonefly nymph, and not a golden. The goldens are lighter in color and about 1/2 the length. I was showin some newbies a few golden nymphs this weekend up on the Stanislaus. The darker bigger nymph is a regular stone if there is such a thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites