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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.

Rock Creek in Montana

Stream photos

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Holocentropus Caddisfly LarvaHolocentropus Caddisfly Larva
Dorsal view of a Holocentropus (Polycentropodidae) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This one seems to tentatively key to Holocentropus, although I can't make out the anal spines in Couplet 7 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae nor the dark bands in Couplet 4 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, making me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in keying it out. I don't see where that could have happened, though. It might also be that it's a very immature larva and doesn't possess all the identifying characteristics in the key yet. If Holocentropus is correct, then Holocentropus flavus and Holocentropus interruptus are the two likely possibilities based on range, but I was not able to find a description of their larvae.
11 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.
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Updates from July 1, 2005

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Teal River in Wisconsin

Male Leucrocuta hebe (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Spinner
5 Pictures
Artistic view of a Male Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Spinner from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Collected July 1, 2005 from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Added by Troutnut on April 22, 2006
Collected July 1, 2005 from the Teal River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on April 22, 2006
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Updates from June 30, 2005

Photos by Troutnut

A whitetail doe and her fawn lurk in the shadows, waiting to strike.
A brood of trout-eating mergansers lurks on a fertile trout stream.

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

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Female Ephemerella excrucians (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Ephemerella excrucians (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin
4
Cicadidae (Cicada) True Bug Adult
Lateral view of a Cicadidae (Cicada) True Bug Adult from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin
I found this cicada and several like it in the grass near my car as I put my waders on. Some of them were singing in the trees above the river, too, but I did not see any fall into the water.
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Female Eurylophella (Chocolate Dun) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Eurylophella (Ephemerellidae) (Chocolate Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin
I'm not sure of the species of this female spinner, and unfortunately I never found the associated males or duns to aid in identification. The egg-laying flight and fall of fairly large clouds of these females caused good rises of choosy trout for a week or so around early July on a large, cold spring creek in the northwoods. There is a distinctive stripe down the female's back, identical to that on this specimen collected a month later.
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Female Stenonema (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Stenonema (Heptageniidae) (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Spinner from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin
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Female Ephemerellidae (Hendricksons, Sulphurs, PMDs, BWOs) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Ephemerellidae (Hendricksons, Sulphurs, PMDs, BWOs) Mayfly Dun from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin
I found this little dun floating down the water's surface stuck in her nymphal shuck. Such stillborn insects are sometiems targeted by the trout. I brought this one home to photograph since it's a species I don't have yet, but I haven't figured out which one.
4
Female Baetis (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Baetis (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin
I'm guessing this specimen is in the genus Acerpenna because of the very sharp costal process on her hind wing. I'm guessing pygmaea because it is the most common species. Editor note: Not Acerpenna. This is most likely Baetis. See comments on this male specimen for rationale. Also compare with the female specimen associated with it.
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Updates from June 27, 2005

Photos by Troutnut

This large, cold trout stream runs through a vast swamp. The weeds grow in deep silt that harbors a dense population of Hexagenia limbata mayflies.
A merganser too young to fly scurries ahead of the canoe.
The Long Lake Branch of the White runs slow and deep through the vast Bibon Swamp after emerging from a hilly upland forest.

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the White River and the Long Lake Branch of the White River in Wisconsin

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Female Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the White River in Wisconsin
6
Female Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Dun
Artistic view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the White River in Wisconsin
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Female Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the White River in Wisconsin
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Female Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the White River in Wisconsin
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Female Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Spinner from the White River in Wisconsin
8
Male Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Male Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the White River in Wisconsin
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Female Heptageniidae (March Browns, Cahills, Quill Gordons) Mayfly Dun
Dorsal view of a Female Heptageniidae (March Browns, Cahills, Quill Gordons) Mayfly Dun from the Long Lake Branch of the White River in Wisconsin
This specimen is really strange, very different in form from any other mayfly I've seen. Unfortunately it was found alone crippled in an eddy and in pretty bad shape, and I couldn't find any others like it.
2
Female Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Dun
Dorsal view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the White River in Wisconsin
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Updates from June 25, 2005

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Atkins Lake in Wisconsin

Male Hexagenia limbata (Hex) Mayfly Spinner
13 Pictures
Lateral view of a Male Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Spinner from Atkins Lake in Wisconsin
Added by Troutnut on May 26, 2006
Collected June 25, 2005 from Atkins Lake in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on May 26, 2006
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Updates from June 24, 2005

Closeup insects by Bnewell from Ninepipes Reservoir in Montana

Mystacides alafimbriata (Black Wing Long-Horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult
1 Picture
Mystacides alafimbriata (Leptoceridae) (Black Wing Long-Horned Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from Ninepipes Reservoir in Montana
Added by Bnewell on June 30, 2011
Collected June 24, 2005 from Ninepipes Reservoir in Montana and added by Bnewell on June 30, 2011
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