Stoneflies

Stoneflies are the largest but least important of the three main types of trout stream insects. They can cause outstanding fishing in certain places and times, especially in the West, but to most anglers they are significant only as handy nymphs to imitate when nothing much is hatching.

The best stoneflies for the angler are the gigantic Pteronarcys californica "Salmonflies" of western legend. The large Golden Stones of the Perlidae and Perlodidae families are more common across the country. The smaller Willowflies of Taeniopterygidae are sometimes the first dry-fly insects of the season, and the little yellow or green Chloroperlidae flies are a common sight throughout the summer.