Hi Patrick- Here is a list of the (26) WA species of Slender Winter Snowflies: Capniidae Bolshecapnia sasquatchi Sasquatch Snowfly Capniidae Capnia confusa Widespread Snowfly Capniidae Capnia elongata Cascades Snowfly Capniidae Capnia excavata Saddleback Snowfly Capniidae Capnia gracilaria Slender Snowfly Capniidae Capnia licina Bent Snowfly Capniidae Capnia melia Northwest Snowfly Capniidae Capnia nana Dwarf Snowfly Capniidae Capnia promota Pacific Snowfly Capniidae Capnia sextuberculata Six-knobbed Snowfly Capniidae Capnura elevata Thicklimb Snowfly Capniidae Capnura venosa Falcate Snowfly Capniidae Eucapnopsis brevicauda Shorttailed Snowfly Capniidae Isocapnia abbreviata Shortlimb Snowfly Capniidae Isocapnia agassizi Agassiz Snowfly Capniidae Isocapnia grandis Giant Snowfly Capniidae Isocapnia palousa Capniidae Isocapnia rickeri Capniidae Isocapnia spenceri Chilliwack Snowfly Capniidae Isocapnia vedderensis Vedder Snowfly Capniidae Mesocapnia autumna Autumn Snowfly Capniidae Mesocapnia oenone Wine Snowfly Capniidae Mesocapnia porrecta Stretched Snowfly Capniidae Mesocapnia projecta Spined Snowfly Capniidae Paracapnia ensicala Sword Snowfly Capniidae Utacapnia imbera Scappoose Snowfly However, determining exactly which one it is would require microscopic examination of male genitalia.
Thanks Taxon. I guess I should have kept one. Pat - I was thinking that a very small ant pattern would work well. If a guy timed it right he could get some dry fly action on the upper SF Sno.
Patrick, what length would you estimate the stonefly at? I tied up some little green ones based on what I'd see on streams in your area in the late summer.
That's a small stone! The ones I usually see are about a standard #14 shank in length. Of course I only see them steelheading and never see any rises--not to mention it'd be closed for trout anyway.
Taxon When I saw these on the North Fork of the Coeur d' Alene river I did my feeble research and found Nemoura winter stones. I have since then been calling them that. From what I see in your post that is probably wrong? Do we have nemoura in WA are they more brown than black? The winter stone imitation that I tie is a size 16 with coarse dubbing picked out (looks leggy) two wraps of #16 black hackle and a white wing laid flat over the body, I use that real thin foam packing/wrapping sheet for the wing. When the fly gets wet the only thing that floats is the wing. It works well. jesse
Hi Jesse- Excellent question. The Forestflies of family Nemouridae are known as Spring Stoneflies and start emerging starting in March, whereas the Snowflies of family Capniidae are known as Slender Winter Stoneflies and their emergence begins in December. Please see Stonefly Taxonomic Structure. Flyfishers sometimes refer to Nemourids as Mottled Browns. However, some fit that description better than others. Here is a list of the Nemourids found in WA: Nemouridae Lednia tumana Mist Forestfly Nemouridae Malenka bifurcata No Common Name Nemouridae Malenka californica California Forestfly Nemouridae Malenka cornuta No Common Name Nemouridae Malenka flexura Twisted Forestfly Nemouridae Malenka perplexa Coast Forestfly Nemouridae Malenka tina Tiny Forestfly Nemouridae Malenka wenatchee Nemouridae Ostrocerca dimicki Hooked Forestfly Nemouridae Ostrocerca foersteri Cascades Forestfly Nemouridae Podmosta decepta Least Forestfly Nemouridae Podmosta delicatula Delicate Forestfly Nemouridae Podmosta obscura Brown-veined Forestfly Nemouridae Prostoia besametsa Banded Forestfly Nemouridae Soyedina interrupta Broken Forestfly Nemouridae Soyedina producta Knobbed Forestfly Nemouridae Visoka cataractae Cataract Forestfly Nemouridae Zapada cinctipes Common Forestfly Nemouridae Zapada columbiana Columbian Forestfly Nemouridae Zapada cordillera Cordilleran Forestfly Nemouridae Zapada frigida Frigid Forestfly Nemouridae Zapada haysi Intermountain Forestfly Nemouridae Zapada oregonensis Oregon Forestfly Hope this helps.
Hi Derek, I believe it to be of genus Zapada. Here are the WA species: Nemouridae Zapada cinctipes Common Forestfly Nemouridae Zapada columbiana Columbian Forestfly Nemouridae Zapada cordillera Cordilleran Forestfly Nemouridae Zapada frigida Frigid Forestfly Nemouridae Zapada haysi Intermountain Forestfly Nemouridae Zapada oregonensis Oregon Forestfly
one thing that i do is when i am gathering insects is put take a few viles with me and when i get home preserve them in everclear. i have a golden stone from when i was 8 that looks like i got it yesterday.
with that i have a few different things from salt water abd fresh water. i have a squid that i landed 2 years ago night fishing (yes i had a license for them), an Isopod, many insects, ect. its a very usefull way of doing it. also the everclear never turns color or damages the sample. its alsmost as if it pickles it lol.
Hi Beachman, Well, that seems like kind of an expensive preservative, but it obviously works for you. Which do you use, 151 proof or 190 proof?
Ethyl alcohol of what I presume to be about 90% purity is available at Zenith Supplies in Seattle on Roosevelt Way and 63rd at about $7.00/qt. I've used it in the past for for preserving stonefly nymphs and caddis pupae with good results. My former source of small, glass, screw-top vials has gone out of business and if anyone knows of another source I'd like to hear about it.
Preston, You may get lucky (cheap) if you check at the UW surplus store, but its not a guarantee that they will have them. I think what you are looking for are called scintillation vials. It is only open to the public Tuesday 12-6 pm. If you strike out there I may be able to get you some through my work, how many do you want/need?
