More Salmonflies: "3, 2, 1… Lift-Off"

On Colorado’s Gunnison, Dave Buchanan chases salmonflies and details the behavior of the big bugs as they do what is described locally as “lift-off:” “The mature nymphs crawl out of the streams and onto rocks, branches, sticks and anything else that goes vertical or close to it: pontoons, oars, waders, and slow-moving anglers. Once out of the water, the bugs wedge out of their nymphal shuck, dry their wings and start checking out the local prospects for romance. It takes a while for the eggs to ripen, but once they are ready the females take off on their adventurous egg-laying flight.” In the Grand Junction Daily Journal.