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#1 2006-05-12 16:25:16
- MasterBaiter
- Member
- Registered: 2006-01-21
- Posts: 35
Giant Black Stoneflies
I was out trying to fool some New Brunswick brookies with some streamers today, with little success. So I decided to turn over some rocks and have a look. To my surprise, I found the Largest Stonefly I had ever seen!!!
I found a couple more, and they were from 1" to 1 3/4" long. I was definetly unprepared to match the hatch on this one! The largest stonefly pattern I had was the size 6 black stonefly tied on an Atlantic Salmon hook. Threw it on anyways, the water was high, but I managed a couple in the 8" range. I think I spent more time looking for these stoneflies than fishing, however. Captured a bunch and threw them in my empty fish tank at home.
I also noticed some wildflowers starting to show up in the woods. Around my cottage in Ontario, there are thousands of White Trilliums, but I have never seen Trilliums like these:
Also, another definite sign of spring is the Trout Lillies. Apparently the mottled pattern on the leaves resembles a Brook Trout. I beleive they are also edible, and there are bulbs that are much like Leeks. I prefer to leave them be.
Eventually I ran out of cigars, and the blackflies drove me out of there.
Enjoy.
Graham
Last edited by MasterBaiter (2006-05-12 16:50:14)
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#2 2006-05-12 17:13:42
- Inconnu
- Member
- From: Beaumont, Alberta
- Registered: 2006-04-05
- Posts: 46
Re: Giant Black Stoneflies
Nice pictures! I kept some stone nymphs of similiar size in a large jar for an evening, they spent most of their time doing push-ups to keep the water moving over their "gills." The cook in the camp I was at was rather horrified when she opened her fridge and saw the athletic pteronarcys doing their Richard Simmons impersonation.
Not sure that I have seen the red trillium on the west coast, certainly the white is pretty common. The red one has the dubious distinction of being nicknamed the "Stinking William" maybe check that out for us?
http://2bnthewild.com/plants/H108.htm
We have a lilly on the west coast similiar to the Trout Lilly, but it has white flowers. You had a great day by the looks of it....Kerry
The further west I try to go, the further east I end up!
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#3 2006-05-12 22:06:21
- MasterBaiter
- Member
- Registered: 2006-01-21
- Posts: 35
Re: Giant Black Stoneflies
HAHA!! mine have been "Dancing" all day to! I don't know if they are doing it to keep the water moving over thier gills (there is plenty of current in my fish tank), or if they are trying to mimic something moving in the current. Something like what a chameleon does when it walks. Sometimes they do push ups, and sometimes they sway side to side. Whatever the purpose, it is quite comical.
Yes, the flowers do stink. It is somewhat like rotten fruit, not very pleasant. Thanks for sharing the nicknames with me.
Graham.
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#4 2006-05-16 03:19:37
Re: Giant Black Stoneflies
MB-
What a wonderful photo. Looks like you have a pretty darned realistic imitation too, just not quite large enough.
In any event, that would be a Salmonfly, family Pternarcidae, perhaps the American Salmonfly, Pteronarcys dorsata. They attain a maximum nymphal body length (excluding antennae and tails) of 2 1/2".
Last edited by Taxon (2006-05-16 14:28:17)
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#6 2006-05-16 20:30:26
- MasterBaiter
- Member
- Registered: 2006-01-21
- Posts: 35
Re: Giant Black Stoneflies
Ok, here's one for ya's
When I collected these bugs the other day I collected a couple different ones. All of the Giant ones are still alive, but most of the Golden Stones are dead (probably killed by the giants). I was cleaning the dead ones out, and checked the filter. To my surprise again, I found this guy, still very alive:
I've never heard of this happening. I don't imagine it would happen in the wild. I put it back into the tank, maybe it'll change back. Hopefully it does before it is killed.
I also have a number of BWO's flying around my apartment now. lol.
Graham.
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