The Salmonfly

These beasties can be common in Oregon, in rivers like the Deschutes -- where they provide for excellent fishing, but aren't as common (though common enough) in the McKenzie. They, like most stoneflies like fast moving, well oxygenated water.

Their importance to anglers can be described in two words: BIG FISH.

Nymphs

(body length approx 6.0 cm)

The nymph pictured above was plucked from the river about a month before hatching, which typically occurs from the beginning of April to middle of June. They can't swim to save their lives, and if dislodged will dead drift with their legs splayed out, praying they touch something solid. For what its worth if they are in still water (or a poorly oxygenated location like a jar in my refrigerator) they do 'push ups' -- bouncing up and down to keep water moving over their gills. You also may notice that the underside of this nymph seems lighter than normal. This is because it had just molted the night before. The day after this photo was shot, the whole nymph had darkened a bit, and the underside became more of a tannish orange.

The nymphs live in the water for 2-4 years, so it's a good bet that a nymph imitation could work any time of the year. Just before hatching in the spring they make an afternoon or evening pilgrimage toward the banks, where they crawl out of the water and transform into adults. While this pilgrimage is going on they are much more likely to lose their footing, and become available to a hungry fish -- Some quality nymph fishing can be had in the weeks before the hatch occurs.

Something like a Kaufmann's Stone, Montana Stone, or Rubber Legs would be a great imitation for these. Imitations should weigh just slightly less than you do, and be fished on the bottom.

Adults

(body length approx. 5.0 cm, total wing length approx. 5.5 cm)

The adults look much like the nymphs, except with a distinctly pinkish orange body, and wings, laid flat. They fly just a bit better than they swim, so later on in the hatch when there are lots of big, fat adults skittering, plunking and splashing around, one can partake in some the best dry fly fishing of the year. When on the water they'll thrash their legs and wiggle their a... bdomens back and forth, heading to the nearest shore. After the hatch, they survive as adults, living in surrounding brush for a few weeks. After mating, the females return to the water to lay their eggs, and again are available to fish. Both dry and wet imitations are good for this situation.

Good Imitations include Orange Stimulators, Sofa Pillow's, anything with an orange macrame yarn body -- etc.

dmason@zebu.uoregon.edu