Yakima River Stoneflies


Skwala or Spring Stone

Skwala americana (formerly Skwala parallela)

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 The Skwala Stone emergence is the first important hatch of the season.  Adults begin to appear during the last week or two of February and fish begin to key on them by the first or second week of  March.  The hatch lasts well into April and overlaps March Brown and BWO hatches.  Skwala generally emerge at night, crawling onto rocks close to the shore.  Mating often occurs as soon as the female frees herself from the nymphal shuck.  Skwala adults become important as trout food when the females return to the river to lay eggs, usually in the late afternoon and evening.  Nymphs prefer fast, rocky runs and riffles and migrate to slower water to emerge.  Emergence takes place on shore.  


Size: 10-12 2x / Colors: (nymphs and adults) dark dun to mottled cream or gold and dun.


Golden Stone (pacifica)

Hesperoperla pacifica  (formerly Acroneuria pacifica) 
Calineuria californica
  (formerly Acroneuria californica)

Much less important on the Yakima than Skwala americana and Claassenia sabulosa.  Can be important locally and their numbers seem to be growing, particularly pacifica. The size of the emergence varies greatly from year to year.  Pacifica is  more common than californica.  Emergence usually occurs in the late afternoon and evening.  Egg laying activity is generally in the evening.  Nymphs prefer fast, rocky runs and riffles and migrate to slower water to emerge.   Emergence takes place on shore.    

 


Size: 6-8 2x-3x / Colors: nymphs: mottled tan and brown. adults: Pacifica: yellow orange. Californica: golden yellow.


Yellow Sally

Isoperla / Osobenus

Yellow Sally is a generic term applied to any small yellow stonefly.  They are active on the Yakima from May through August.  Emergence  occurs during daylight hours and egg laying in late afternoon and evening.   Nymphs prefer moderate to fast runs and riffles and migrate to slower water to emerge.  Emergence takes place on shore.           


Size: 14-16 / Colors: nymphs: pale yellow to brown. adults: pale yellow to yellow brown. The rear third of the abdomen on egg laden females will be red. 


Summer Stone (Shortwing Stone)

Claassenia sabulosa

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The Yakima's premier stonefly hatch.  Although these large stones rarely emerge in great numbers, their large size and steady, extended emergence period (from Late June to early October) makes them an important food source for trout. Males have very short wings and are incapable of flight.  Emergence occurs at night and egg laying in late afternoon and evening.  Nymphs prefer fast, rocky runs and riffles and migrate to slower water to emerge.  Emergence takes place on shore.   

Emerging Summer (Shortwing) Stone.  One of dozens (male and female) emerging at the Slab (Big Pines) July 2.  This emergence occurs after dark from late June though early October.  The female adults are most active and available to fish in the late afternoon and evening when egg laying takes place.  The flightless males will occasionally run at an amazing clip across the water, but generally seem to confine their activity to the shoreline in search of females.

Size: 4-6 2x-3x / Colors: nymphs: mottled cream, tan, brown and dark dun. adults: cream, tan and dark dun.


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