Blog & Latest Updates
Fly Fishing Articles
Insects by Common Name
or register. |
Redacted | February 14th, 2011, 9:07 am | |
Posts: 5 | Bitterroot River near Missoula, Montana. Late March emergence. | |
PaulRoberts | February 14th, 2011, 11:21 am | |
Colorado Posts: 1776 | That early? Very cool. | |
Redacted | February 15th, 2011, 11:14 am | |
Posts: 5 | Paul, Ment to put up a photo for people to ID, but for some reason can't get it to work before the post floats away. Anyway, yes, this early mayfly provides some of the very best fishing of the season. It is big enough (well matched with a #14 although it looks larger floating on the surface) and numerous enough to move the fish to a frenzy sometimes.It generally follows the famous Skwalla emergence, although there is considerable overlap. Once runoff starts in ernest, though, the fun is over. An article I wrote for Tom Chandler's Troutunderground.com blog last spring has pictures of Skwallas copulating (note the atrophied wings of the male) and a really nifty picture of the mayfly in question. Just do a search for "Sully" and look for that post to see those pictures since I'm too stupid to figure out how to do it directly. | |
PaulRoberts | February 15th, 2011, 12:02 pm | |
Colorado Posts: 1776 | Put your images in a host site, like Photobucket, and then copy it in. Use the (User tried to post an image here without an source.) format, but for this site you need to change the IMG to lower case -img. changes to: Why do you think it's Ameletus? It looks like a bright Rhithrogena morrisoni. Have you keyed it? Hind wing is large like Rhithro. And the abdomen appears pretty short, for Ameletus. Not certain of course, just wondering. I do have an Ameletus dun photo in my collection, but it's a transparency. I tried to take a point-n-shoot of it, but the result was just lousy. It's an eastern species (ludens I think) and the stamp on the slide is April(!). They do have a long emergence period -like all summer. I guess I forgot how early they can start. It is a leaden gray throughout, including wing. Looks a lot like a slim Siphlonurus, and a lot like an Isonychia. At least some western Ameletus have marked wings from what I've read, and I tried to photo one last summer, with marked wings -and almost succeeded! I was keeping my eyes open for them and had one land on my hat brim. Did look like a slim Rhithro. Will keep my eyes open in the future. | |
Redacted | February 16th, 2011, 9:44 am | |
Posts: 5 | Thanks Paul. | |
PaulRoberts | February 16th, 2011, 11:27 am | |
Colorado Posts: 1776 | Another thing: Look at the width of the femur. That's Rhithrogena. | |
Entoman | February 16th, 2011, 12:11 pm | |
Northern CA & ID Posts: 2604 | Hi Redacted, Paul is right. They usually appear darker, but lighting in the photo could be the reason for that. Ameletus is a large swimmer whereas Rhithrogena is a clinger. Keys aside,the body and wing conformation is very different between the two (as are the fishing methods and flies required). Both share similar coloration and mottling (or lack of) and can be easily confused depending on the angle and quality of the photograph. But even without a photograph, the real clue is your mention of hatching in the early Spring. Skwalas and W. March Browns are two favorite hatches on one of my local rivers (mid FE through MA). The lack of precip. in JA and early FE was setting up a banner year! I was just getting geared up and now its starting to rain... Much higher levels and off color to flat out muddy if it goes on much longer! Supposed to be socked in all week which is dimming my hopes for this years Skwala/M. Brown tag team. Once the storm window opens out here it can last for weeks....(sigh) Check out my comments on Skwala, you might find them enteresting... BTW, great photo of the March Brown! Can you share some photos of the Skwala Adult/Nymphs from your river if you have them? Best regards, Kurt | |
"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman | ||
Title | Replies | Last Reply |
Re: great photo's In Female Drunella doddsii Mayfly Dun by Pauly | 2 | May 26, 2011 by Troutnut |
Re: Found in Colorado In the Identify This! Board by Pdcox | 1 | Jul 23, 2020 by Taxon |
Re: What genus this mayfly ? In the Identify This! Board by And | 5 | Apr 22, 2007 by Brookyman |
Re: untitled In the Identify This! Board by Redacted | 1 | Feb 15, 2011 by Redacted |
Re: Bitterroot river April mayfly nymph ? In the Identify This! Board by Leskorcala | 4 | Apr 10, 2020 by Konchu |
Re: Second opinions on this one's ID? In Male Rhithrogena morrisoni Mayfly Spinner by Troutnut | 3 | Jul 5, 2017 by Crepuscular |
Re: Gilvipes or atripes? In Female Dicosmoecus atripes Caddisfly Adult by Entoman | 7 | Dec 19, 2016 by Clark2016 |
Re: 2 tails or 3 In the Mayfly Species Maccaffertium vicarium by Snagy | 1 | Feb 6, 2010 by Taxon |
Re: Quill Gordon Wet In General Discussion by Martinlf | 12 | Mar 28, 2013 by Sayfu |
Anyone care to guess at this one? In Female Eurylophella Mayfly Spinner by Troutnut | 0 |