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Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
Hex Mayflies
Hexagenia limbata

The famous nocturnal Hex hatch of the Midwest (and a few other lucky locations) stirs to the surface mythically large brown trout that only touch streamers for the rest of the year.

Dorsal view of a Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
I caught this tiny larva without a case, but it seems to key pretty clearly to to Glossosomatidae. From there, the lack of sclerites on the mesonotum points to either Glossosoma or Anagapetus. Although it's difficult to see in a 2D image from the microscope, it's pretty clear in the live 3D view that the pronotum is only excised about 1/3 of its length to accommodate the forecoxa, not 2/3, which points to Glossosoma at Couplet 5 of the Key to Genera of Glossosomatidae Larvae.
27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.
Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Updates from March 5, 2004

Photos by Troutnut from Mystery Creek #19 in Wisconsin

Me trying to catch some hungry little brook trout on opening day, 2004.

From the Mystery Creek # 19 in Wisconsin
This little brookie is my dad's first trout on a fly.  It came on opening day of the 2004 early season for trout in Wisconsin.
My dad throws a cast on opening day, 2004.

From the Mystery Creek # 19 in Wisconsin

Updates from February 29, 2004

Videos by Troutnut from the Marengo River and Miscellaneous Wisconsin in Wisconsin

Another Hexagenia
Two Phryganeidae caddis larvae fighting over a case

Caddisfly larvae of this family can easily leave and re-enters their cases. I caught two of them playing musical chairs or something with this one... funny!

Photos by Troutnut from the Marengo River and the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

I had excellent luck sampling burrowing mayfly nymphs here in the headwaters of a trouty small stream.

From the Marengo River in Wisconsin
I had to really search for a while to find a sliver of opening water at this sampling site far in the headwaters of a mighty warmwater river.

From the Far Upper West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin
I had excellent luck sampling burrowing mayfly nymphs here in the headwaters of a trouty small stream.

From the Marengo River in Wisconsin

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Miscellaneous Wisconsin and the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

Updates from February 26, 2004

Underwater photos by Troutnut from Mystery Creek #19 in Wisconsin

The Mystery Creek # 19 in Wisconsin
The Mystery Creek # 19 in Wisconsin
The Mystery Creek # 19 in Wisconsin
The Mystery Creek # 19 in Wisconsin
There's a pretty nice brookie on the left here, probably 14 inches long.

From the Mystery Creek # 19 in Wisconsin
The Mystery Creek # 19 in Wisconsin
The Mystery Creek # 19 in Wisconsin
The Mystery Creek # 19 in Wisconsin
The Mystery Creek # 19 in Wisconsin
Hundreds of creek chubs and common shiners approach.
There's a large school of minnows in the far distance here in the clear water of a spring head.
Hundreds of creek chubs and common shiners take the long path around me through the barren shallows of a silty backwater area.  It looks sort of like a Mars landscape, doesn't it?
A huge school of creek chubs and common shiners rushes past me.
The Mystery Creek # 19 in Wisconsin

Updates from February 25, 2004

Photos by Troutnut from the South Fork of the White River in Wisconsin

I took several underwater photos of caddis larvae here.

From the South Fork of the White River in Wisconsin

Underwater photos by Troutnut from the South Fork of the White River in Wisconsin

Several caddis larvae cling in the current amongst the debris collected on an underwater alder branch.

From the South Fork of the White River in Wisconsin
This underwater log hosts hundreds of caddisfly larvae, some in cases and some in spiderweb-like lairs.

From the South Fork of the White River in Wisconsin
Several caddisfly larvae in their cases cling to the debris in this picture.

From the South Fork of the White River in Wisconsin
The caddis larvae in this picture built their cases from tiny pebbles.

From the South Fork of the White River in Wisconsin
A few caddis larvae cling to this partially submerged clump of streamside grass.

From the South Fork of the White River in Wisconsin
Here's the underside of a "lunker structure", a manmade undercut bank where trout love to hang out. It's amazing how much I've seen the trout use these things. I've also noticed that the best trout populations I've seen are in streams where lunker structures have been installed.

From the South Fork of the White River in Wisconsin
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