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.

Stream photos

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Neoleptophlebia Mayfly Nymph Neoleptophlebia Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.

10 Recently Added Photos

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.

Wisconsin 2008 Opener

LenH
driftless area

Posts: 58

LenH on Mar 2, 2008March 2nd, 2008, 10:41 am EST

14 degrees yesterday

i questioned my sanity as i got out on the water and walked through 2 feet of snow and 5 feet drifts on the banks.

Was a fine day...if you were a Polar Bear.

I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197

Shawnny3 on Mar 2, 2008March 2nd, 2008, 11:27 pm EST

Nothing more exhausting or funny than walking through deep snow in neoprene waders. I remember the last time I did it with my brother - we definitely didn't hike in as far as we'd hoped to, and we laughed our freaking butts off the whole way as we fell down time after time. It wasn't quite as funny for me, though, as it was a week later when there was a crust on that same 2-feet of snow - my skinny 170 pounds could just barely walk along the crust, while his sorry 230 pounds would just barely fall through. Watching him put almost all his weight on each foot before it fell through, as well as the look on his face each time it did, was priceless.

-Shawn

Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com

LenH
driftless area

Posts: 58

LenH on Mar 3, 2008March 3rd, 2008, 2:42 am EST

Buggers and nymphs

slow and deliberate.

Buds biggest small stream brookie

Bud's First Tiger

Decent brown to start year off.

Troutnut

Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758

Troutnut on Mar 3, 2008March 3rd, 2008, 8:14 am EST

Lucky bastard! Our rivers are still under 4 feet of ice... though we finally did manage to pull a burbot up from under there!

Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

West

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Posts: 46

West on Mar 3, 2008March 3rd, 2008, 11:57 am EST

Well I cannot lay claim to any of the fine specimens above, but just to be looked at as one of the "crazed ones" out there, I'll mention my first trout of the year, a 13.5" brown that took my hex nymph at about 4:00 in the afternoon. I was fishing on the White River in NW Wisconsin. The air temp. was about 27 degrees and the water 35. After three consecutive seasons going to the White for the opener, I have yet to have a multi-fish day. They're getting bigger though. It's gone from 11" my first year, 9" last, and almost 14" this year. All browns.

I couldn't have been happier on the ride home. All smiles....Cheers to 2008!

West

http://pleasantly-obsessed.blogspot.com/

Freepow
menomonie, WI

Posts: 83

Freepow on Mar 3, 2008March 3rd, 2008, 4:16 pm EST

I too had a bit of luck on the opener. I caught a pretty little brookie on the Rush River. I was surprised because I hadn't caught a brookie there. It was on a little dry fly too! What a nice day to be out. Can't wait to go again next weekend...pray to the weather gods everyone!

"I fish...because I suspect that men are going along this way for the last time, and I for one don't want to waste the trip..."