Enlarged shot of the dark
salmonfly nymph. They look
dangerous but they are not.
salmonfly nymph. They look
dangerous but they are not.
Flyfishingdvd's Imitating Aquatic
Insects: Stoneflies will teach you
what you need to know about
stoneflies and how to imitate
their behavior.
Insects: Stoneflies will teach you
what you need to know about
stoneflies and how to imitate
their behavior.
Stoneflies:
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| ............................Fly Fishing Yellowstone National Park |
The Golden Stonefly adults
deposit their eggs mostly at
dusk and after. Fishing a dry
imitation can be effective latter
in the afternoons at times,
however. Cloudy, overcast
days can bring on the egg
laying activity earlier in the day.
deposit their eggs mostly at
dusk and after. Fishing a dry
imitation can be effective latter
in the afternoons at times,
however. Cloudy, overcast
days can bring on the egg
laying activity earlier in the day.
A large Salmonfly nymph from
the Firehole canyon. It don't take
many of these to fill up a trout..
the Firehole canyon. It don't take
many of these to fill up a trout..
A hand full of salmonflies
indicates the massive hatch in
the canyon of the Firehole.
indicates the massive hatch in
the canyon of the Firehole.
You will find that Yellowstone has a huge
population and diversity of stoneflies. Many of
its streams are perfectly suited for them.
Importance as Trout Food:
In spite of the quantity of stoneflies in the
streams, they are not always the most
important trout food available to the trout
because of the word available. They are not
usually available. They are usually hidden down
between and beneath the rocks and stones that
make up the streams substrate. When they
feed, in some situations; when they molt, in
some situations; and when they hatch in all
situations, they are available for the trout to eat.
Nymphs:
Occasionally, the smaller stonefly nymphs get
accidentally caught by the streams current and
tumble downstream. Some, mostly the small
species, are a part in the behavioral drift. It is
certainly possible to catch trout on an imitation
of the nymph at times other than during the
hatch but may well produce less than
satisfactory results.
The Hatch:
Stoneflies hatch out of the water, not in the
water like most other aquatic insects. Most all
stoneflies crawl to the shoreline, rocks or other
objects that are protruding out of the water to
hatch. It is during this migration that they are
most available the trout to eat.
Imitating the Hatch:
You should imitate this behavior by retrieving
your nymph imitation on the bottom towards the
bank. Fishing from the bank and retrieving your
fly back to shore is usually more effective than
the typical nymphing on the swing and high
sticking type methods are. Keep in mind that
the stoneflies move to the quieter water along
the shore or pockets where rocks extend out of
the water as opposed to crawling out of fast
water. You want to fish the calmer portion of the
water that is adjacent to the fast water in which
the stoneflies live.
Adults:
Stoneflies live for a relatively long time out of the
water. They mate out of the water. Unlike
mayflies, for example, stoneflies can eat and
drink as adults. Just because you find a lot of
stoneflies in the bushes and trees along the
banks of a stream does not necessarily mean
you can catch trout on an imitation of the adult.
The only time the adults are going to be
available for the trout to eat is when the females
are depositing their eggs.
Egg Ovipositiing:
Most stoneflies deposit their eggs during the
night but some species do so during the
daylight hours. All of them prefer to deposit their
eggs during low light conditions. Overcast
skies and rainy days may offer some
opportunities for anglers to catch trout on
ovipositing stoneflies.
Stonefly Families:
There are nine families of stoneflies in the
United States. Wyoming has species from all
nine families. Many of the species in the park
hatch before or after the season closes and are
not important. Unlike caddisflies and mayflies it
is usually not necessary to determine these to
any level below the family level. With only a very
few exceptions, there is very little difference in
the genera of the families. Most all of them are
about the same size and shape. The colors of
the nymphs and the adults within a family can
vary within the family. In Yellowstone National
Park, the majority of the larger stoneflies are
either the salmonfly or the golden stonefly.
These are not difficult to distinguish from each
other or the other families of stoneflies.
The best way to choose a fly to match them in
the event you are unable to identify a hatch is to
catch one of the adults and match it but this is
not legal in the park. If you have patterns of the
type we recommend, then you would have a fly
to match them. You can find the adults by
checking the bushes, trees and grass along
the stream side for the stoneflies. The nymphs
are also fairly easy to acquire. They can be
found clinging to the bottom of stones.
Normally, you can pick up the stones from the
bottom of the stream and get a good idea as to
what is most available in the stream. The
following are the most important species:
Perlidae Family Golden Stoneflies:
Species of the "Golden Stonefly" family are
probably the most plentiful group of stoneflies
in the park. The Hesperoperla pacifica is the
most common species. Most of these are very
colorful as nymphs. Patterns of dark brown and
yellow distinguish them, especially those that
are near maturity. The adults range from a
golden dull yellow color to a solid brown
depending on the species. Imitations of the
nymphs can be very productive prior to a hatch.
Much of the egg laying activity occurs after dark
but late afternoons may produce some activity
especially if low light conditions exist.
Perlodidae Little Yellow
Stoneflies
Species of the Isoperla genus of the Perlodidae
family are usually called the " Yellow Sally" but
several other species are also called Yellow
Sallies, so that depends on what part of the
country you are in. The Suwallia pallidula is
another species that is common in Yellowstone
National Park. These stoneflies usually hatch in
the afternoons and usually begin to deposit
their eggs late in the afternoon prior to dark and
continue to do for some time in the evening.
This makes it productive in most cases to
imitate the egg laying activity before dark. We
have experienced very good results in some of
the streams in Yellowstone imitating the egg
laying activity of the Yellow Sallies.
Pteronarcella Family: Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant salmonflies are plentiful in some of
the streams in the park. These are huge
nymphs that live for 3 or 4 years. Trout can be
taken on imitations of the large nymphs during
the day during the hatch period, even though
the large stoneflies hatch during the evenings.
Before they hatch they migrate to shore and the
trout are well aware of it. They follow the
nymphs and feed on them for a few days prior
to the time they hatch.
Imitations of the adults fished during the eggs
laying activity can be very effective. Imitating the
adults is not effective unless you fish at the right
time. Just because you see these huge flies in
the bushes, doesn't mean they are depositing
their eggs. This activity usually takes place a
few days after the hatch. Both the hatch and the
egg laying activity moves upstream as the hatch
progresses.
Summary:
Stonefly nymphs are in every stream we have
checked in Yellowstone National Park.
Normally, they are very plentiful. Since the
families of larger ones, the Goldens and the
Salmonflies live for 2 or 4 years, they are
always in the streams in all sizes. They are
definitely a very important and abundant trout
food in the small and larger freestone streams
of the park. It is true most of them stay hidden
most of the time. Only a few small species have
been found in a drift. Trout may have a hard
time finding one to eat unless it is trying to
crawl to a bank to hatch, or the stonefly nymph
gets careless feeding at night. There is one
thing you can count on, however. The trout know
they are there and they are always ready and
willing to pounce on one whenever they get the
opportunity.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
population and diversity of stoneflies. Many of
its streams are perfectly suited for them.
Importance as Trout Food:
In spite of the quantity of stoneflies in the
streams, they are not always the most
important trout food available to the trout
because of the word available. They are not
usually available. They are usually hidden down
between and beneath the rocks and stones that
make up the streams substrate. When they
feed, in some situations; when they molt, in
some situations; and when they hatch in all
situations, they are available for the trout to eat.
Nymphs:
Occasionally, the smaller stonefly nymphs get
accidentally caught by the streams current and
tumble downstream. Some, mostly the small
species, are a part in the behavioral drift. It is
certainly possible to catch trout on an imitation
of the nymph at times other than during the
hatch but may well produce less than
satisfactory results.
The Hatch:
Stoneflies hatch out of the water, not in the
water like most other aquatic insects. Most all
stoneflies crawl to the shoreline, rocks or other
objects that are protruding out of the water to
hatch. It is during this migration that they are
most available the trout to eat.
Imitating the Hatch:
You should imitate this behavior by retrieving
your nymph imitation on the bottom towards the
bank. Fishing from the bank and retrieving your
fly back to shore is usually more effective than
the typical nymphing on the swing and high
sticking type methods are. Keep in mind that
the stoneflies move to the quieter water along
the shore or pockets where rocks extend out of
the water as opposed to crawling out of fast
water. You want to fish the calmer portion of the
water that is adjacent to the fast water in which
the stoneflies live.
Adults:
Stoneflies live for a relatively long time out of the
water. They mate out of the water. Unlike
mayflies, for example, stoneflies can eat and
drink as adults. Just because you find a lot of
stoneflies in the bushes and trees along the
banks of a stream does not necessarily mean
you can catch trout on an imitation of the adult.
The only time the adults are going to be
available for the trout to eat is when the females
are depositing their eggs.
Egg Ovipositiing:
Most stoneflies deposit their eggs during the
night but some species do so during the
daylight hours. All of them prefer to deposit their
eggs during low light conditions. Overcast
skies and rainy days may offer some
opportunities for anglers to catch trout on
ovipositing stoneflies.
Stonefly Families:
There are nine families of stoneflies in the
United States. Wyoming has species from all
nine families. Many of the species in the park
hatch before or after the season closes and are
not important. Unlike caddisflies and mayflies it
is usually not necessary to determine these to
any level below the family level. With only a very
few exceptions, there is very little difference in
the genera of the families. Most all of them are
about the same size and shape. The colors of
the nymphs and the adults within a family can
vary within the family. In Yellowstone National
Park, the majority of the larger stoneflies are
either the salmonfly or the golden stonefly.
These are not difficult to distinguish from each
other or the other families of stoneflies.
The best way to choose a fly to match them in
the event you are unable to identify a hatch is to
catch one of the adults and match it but this is
not legal in the park. If you have patterns of the
type we recommend, then you would have a fly
to match them. You can find the adults by
checking the bushes, trees and grass along
the stream side for the stoneflies. The nymphs
are also fairly easy to acquire. They can be
found clinging to the bottom of stones.
Normally, you can pick up the stones from the
bottom of the stream and get a good idea as to
what is most available in the stream. The
following are the most important species:
Perlidae Family Golden Stoneflies:
Species of the "Golden Stonefly" family are
probably the most plentiful group of stoneflies
in the park. The Hesperoperla pacifica is the
most common species. Most of these are very
colorful as nymphs. Patterns of dark brown and
yellow distinguish them, especially those that
are near maturity. The adults range from a
golden dull yellow color to a solid brown
depending on the species. Imitations of the
nymphs can be very productive prior to a hatch.
Much of the egg laying activity occurs after dark
but late afternoons may produce some activity
especially if low light conditions exist.
Perlodidae Little Yellow
Stoneflies
Species of the Isoperla genus of the Perlodidae
family are usually called the " Yellow Sally" but
several other species are also called Yellow
Sallies, so that depends on what part of the
country you are in. The Suwallia pallidula is
another species that is common in Yellowstone
National Park. These stoneflies usually hatch in
the afternoons and usually begin to deposit
their eggs late in the afternoon prior to dark and
continue to do for some time in the evening.
This makes it productive in most cases to
imitate the egg laying activity before dark. We
have experienced very good results in some of
the streams in Yellowstone imitating the egg
laying activity of the Yellow Sallies.
Pteronarcella Family: Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica
The giant salmonflies are plentiful in some of
the streams in the park. These are huge
nymphs that live for 3 or 4 years. Trout can be
taken on imitations of the large nymphs during
the day during the hatch period, even though
the large stoneflies hatch during the evenings.
Before they hatch they migrate to shore and the
trout are well aware of it. They follow the
nymphs and feed on them for a few days prior
to the time they hatch.
Imitations of the adults fished during the eggs
laying activity can be very effective. Imitating the
adults is not effective unless you fish at the right
time. Just because you see these huge flies in
the bushes, doesn't mean they are depositing
their eggs. This activity usually takes place a
few days after the hatch. Both the hatch and the
egg laying activity moves upstream as the hatch
progresses.
Summary:
Stonefly nymphs are in every stream we have
checked in Yellowstone National Park.
Normally, they are very plentiful. Since the
families of larger ones, the Goldens and the
Salmonflies live for 2 or 4 years, they are
always in the streams in all sizes. They are
definitely a very important and abundant trout
food in the small and larger freestone streams
of the park. It is true most of them stay hidden
most of the time. Only a few small species have
been found in a drift. Trout may have a hard
time finding one to eat unless it is trying to
crawl to a bank to hatch, or the stonefly nymph
gets careless feeding at night. There is one
thing you can count on, however. The trout know
they are there and they are always ready and
willing to pounce on one whenever they get the
opportunity.
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
A Yellow Sally or is one of the
more common stoneflies in the
park. The Little Yellow Stoneflies
are in the Perlodidae family.
more common stoneflies in the
park. The Little Yellow Stoneflies
are in the Perlodidae family.
The huge Salmonfly adults
deposit their eggs late in the
afternoon and on into the night.
deposit their eggs late in the
afternoon and on into the night.
The Golden Stonefly nymphs
are present in about all the
streams. Imitations of them
usually work good.
are present in about all the
streams. Imitations of them
usually work good.
The huge salmonfly nymph is a
big meal for any trout. This one
is on the Gardner River. This
river has an excellent hatch.
big meal for any trout. This one
is on the Gardner River. This
river has an excellent hatch.
Golden stonefly hatches can be
prolific at times on certain
streams in the park.
prolific at times on certain
streams in the park.
Thumbnails-Click on image
Thumbnails-Click on image
The Golden Stonefly nymphs are
present in just about all of the
streams in Yellowstone National
Park.
present in just about all of the
streams in Yellowstone National
Park.
Another Golden Stonefly
A pair of Salmonfly nymphs
The salmonfly adults hang
around in the bushes most of
the time during the day. The
females will be back on the
water before long, depositing
their eggs and fishing can be
fantastic.
around in the bushes most of
the time during the day. The
females will be back on the
water before long, depositing
their eggs and fishing can be
fantastic.