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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.

The East Fork Big Lost River in Idaho

Stream photos

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Re: Trico emergers
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Bwoklink (Martinlf replied)
Re: Trico Tips
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Martinlf
Re: UV spectrum and trout
In General Discussion by Martinlf
Re: closing the gender gap in flyfishing
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Re: Fishing Kupa River, Slovenia
In Fishing Reports by Slocum (Fish1 replied)
Isoperla (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly AdultIsoperla (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult
Dorsal view of a Isoperla (Perlodidae) (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult from Mystery Creek #308 in Washington
9 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.

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  2. Wisconsin
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  3. Miscellaneous

  1. Places
    2. ›
  2. Wisconsin
    3. ›
  3. Miscellaneous

Landscape & scenery photos from Miscellaneous

On my way to a favorite brook trout stream, I spotted several sandhill cranes in a Wisconsin farm field. From Rusk County, WI in Wisconsin

On-stream insect photos from Miscellaneous

These caddisflies were thick over the water in the evening on a cold, clear northwoods lake. They were in many places on the lake, all closer to the shady shore, which also was the shore most sheltered from the wind. I'm not sure which of those features attracted them. From Lake Owen in Wisconsin
This is Nectopsyche albida. Elongate wing connotes female. From Lake Owen in Wisconsin
This spider lives in the rocks streambed of a Catskill trout stream. From unknown in Wisconsin
Lake Owen in Wisconsin

Videos from Miscellaneous

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!

Featuring: Phryganeidae Caddisfly Larva
Added by Troutnut on Mar 30, 2006
Hexagenia

This is one of the earliest videos I made, and I was experimenting with a tank and background that didn't work very well.

Featuring: Hexagenia limbata Mayfly Nymph
Added by Troutnut on Mar 30, 2006
Water Boatman Rowing

Water boatmen are excellent swimmers, and you can see here how they use their oars to push themselves through the water, a motion easily imitated by the fly fisher.

Featuring: Corixidae True Bug Adult
Added by Troutnut on Mar 30, 2006

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Miscellaneous Wisconsin in Wisconsin

4
Notonectidae (Backswimmer) True Bug Adult
The specimen is right-side-up, but dead, in this picture. The isopropyl alcohol I used to kill it also immediately discolored it. Dorsal view of a Notonectidae (Backswimmer) True Bug Adult from unknown in Wisconsin
3
Clitellata-Hirudinae (Leech) Animal Adult
Dorsal view of a Clitellata-Hirudinae (Leech) Animal Adult from unknown in Wisconsin
3
Ptychopteridae (Phantom Crane Fly) True Fly Larva
Dorsal view of a Ptychopteridae (Phantom Crane Fly) True Fly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin
4
Taeniopteryx (Early Black Stonefly) Stonefly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Taeniopteryx (Taeniopterygidae) (Early Black Stonefly) Stonefly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin
4
Isoperla (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Isoperla (Perlodidae) (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin
7
Ranatra Water Scorpion Adult
Dorsal view of a Ranatra (Nepidae) Water Scorpion Adult from unknown in Wisconsin
Here's a big water scorpion (no relation to actual scorpions). These guys are just about the most sinister-looking creatures you could find, and what's especially creepy is that they can come up out of the water and fly around, as I learned when one left my aquarium and buzzed my head while I was peeking into the microscope at a mayfly nymph.
2
Calopteryx Damselfly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Calopteryx (Calopterygidae) Damselfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin
2
Tipulidae (Crane Fly) True Fly Larva
Dorsal view of a Tipulidae (Crane Fly) True Fly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin
3
Sialis Alderfly Larva
Dorsal view of a Sialis (Sialidae) Alderfly Larva from unknown in Wisconsin
4
Cordulegaster Dragonfly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Cordulegaster (Cordulegastridae) Dragonfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin
4
Hagenius brevistylus (Dragonhunter) Dragonfly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Hagenius brevistylus (Gomphidae) (Dragonhunter) Dragonfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin
2
Clitelatta-Oligochaeta (Worm) Animal Adult
Dorsal view of a Clitelatta-Oligochaeta (Worm) Animal Adult from unknown in Wisconsin
I know most people know what a worm looks like, but when trying to tie an imitation, the memory is often a poor source of accurate color information, and a picture helps to get the right shade. One thing that surprised me in my sampling is that quite a few worms did turn up. Before I was a fly fisherman, when I used worms for bait, I always thought they were merely a tantalizing morsel and not a regular trout food, but I've since realized that there are quite a few worms that live in the sediment on a stream bottom.
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