Header image
Enter a name
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.

For how many years, I wonder, have these huge slabs of rock sheltered wild brook trout? From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York

Stream photos

Featured on the forum
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
In General Discussion by Konchu (Smallflyguy replied)
Re: Fishing Kupa River, Slovenia
In Fishing Reports by Slocum (Fish1 replied)
Coleoptera (Beetle) Insect LarvaColeoptera (Beetle) Insect Larva
Lateral view of a Coleoptera (Beetle) Insect Larva from Sears Creek in Washington
6 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.

Updates from May 29, 2005

Photos by Troutnut from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

The trees were leafing out and the trout were rising on this productive Wisconsin stream From the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

Closeup insects by Bnewell from the South Fork of the Milk River in Montana

Female Callibaetis (Speckled Dun) Mayfly Dun
2 Pictures
Female Callibaetis (Baetidae) (Speckled Dun) Mayfly Dun from the S. Fk. Milk River in Montana
Collected May 29, 2005 from the S. Fk. Milk River in Montana
Added by Bnewell on June 28, 2011
Collected May 29, 2005 from the S. Fk. Milk River in Montana and added by Bnewell on June 28, 2011
Add your comment

Updates from May 28, 2005

Photos by Troutnut

On-stream insect photos by Troutnut

A dense cloud of extremely tiny flies hovers close over the river.
Add your comment

Updates from May 27, 2005

Photos by Troutnut from Mystery Creek #56 in Wisconsin

This remote small brookie stream rarely gets fished, and perhaps for good reason. I couldn't find any trout. From Mystery Creek # 56 in Wisconsin
Recent forest service work has stabilized the alder-lined banks of this small trout stream and opened it up to sunlight, which helps increase its productivity. From Mystery Creek # 56 in Wisconsin
Interesting vegetation grows around this shallow, remote spring pond at the headwaters of an obscure trout stream. From Mystery Creek # 56 in Wisconsin

On-stream insect photos by Troutnut from Mystery Creek #56 in Wisconsin

I took this picture of a scud from above the water's surface in a very shallow, clear, tiny bit of water at the margin of a little spring pond. From Mystery Creek # 56 in Wisconsin

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Namekagon River and the Teal River in Wisconsin

11
Male Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Dun
Artistic view of a Male Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
I collected this mayfly on the same trip as a female of the same species. After these photos it molted into a spinner. This is the form of Stenonema vicarium which anglers call the "Gray Fox."
8
Female Leptophlebia cupida (Black Quill) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Leptophlebia cupida (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Spinner from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
8
Female Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Dun from the Teal River in Wisconsin
9
Ephemerella needhami (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Ephemerella needhami (Ephemerellidae) (Little Dark Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
4
Female Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
This specimen was collected on the same trip as a similar dun.
5
Female Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
6
Female Epeorus vitreus (Sulphur) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Epeorus vitreus (Heptageniidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
8
Female Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
This specimen was collected on the same trip as a similar dun.
5
Female Baetisca laurentina (Armored Mayfly) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Baetisca laurentina (Baetiscidae) (Armored Mayfly) Mayfly Spinner from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
7
Female Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Spinner from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
I collected this mayfly on the same trip as a male of the same species. They are Maccaffertium vicarium mayflies of the type formerly known as Stenonema fuscom, the "Gray Fox."
5
Male Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Spinner
Artistic view of a Male Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Spinner from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
This spinner comes from a dun I collected and photographed earlier.
3
Female Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from the Teal River in Wisconsin
4
Male Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Male Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from the Teal River in Wisconsin
Add your comment

Updates from May 26, 2005

Photos by Troutnut

The West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin
The West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

Closeup insects by Troutnut and Bnewell from the Teal River, the Namekagon River, and the Vermillion River in Wisconsin and Montana

13
Male Stenacron (Light Cahill) Mayfly Dun
Artistic view of a Male Stenacron (Heptageniidae) (Light Cahill) Mayfly Dun from the Teal River in Wisconsin
6
Male Stenonema (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Male Stenonema (Heptageniidae) (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
I collected this male dun together with a female.
6
Male Leptophlebia cupida (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Male Leptophlebia cupida (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Dun from the Teal River in Wisconsin
This Leptophlebia cupida dun was extremely cooperative, and it molted into a spinner for me in front of the camera. Here I have a few dun pictures and one spinner picture, and I've put the entire molting sequence in an article.
6
Female Stenonema (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Stenonema (Heptageniidae) (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
I collected this female dun together with a male. She's fairly damaged but at least you can see the colors.
2
Male Rhithrogena Mayfly Dun
Male Rhithrogena (Heptageniidae) Mayfly Dun from the Vermillion River in Montana
Add your comment

Updates from May 25, 2005

Photos by Troutnut from the Teal River and in Wisconsin and

The Teal River in Wisconsin
The Teal River in Wisconsin
A 20-inch brown jumps at the end of my dad's fly line, but the picture quality isn't the best. He could just as easily be shaking his fist at a beaver.
The Teal River in Wisconsin

On-stream insect photos by Troutnut from the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

Often mayflies can be found on houses near the river. This one molted from a dun into a spinner on the outside of our kitchen window. Any lit dwelling near the river can attract a lot of mayflies at night. A good way to determine what's hatching is to visit a gas station (or anything else with bright lights) close to the river early in the morning. From the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

Closeup insects by Troutnut and Bnewell from the Namekagon River and the Flathead River in Wisconsin and Montana

13
Female Stenonema (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Stenonema (Heptageniidae) (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
8
Female Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Spinner from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
4
Male Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur) Mayfly Dun
Dorsal view of a Male Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
2
Female Callibaetis undatus (Speckled Dun) Mayfly Spinner
Female Callibaetis undatus (Baetidae) (Speckled Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the Flathead River-lower in Montana
Add your comment
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy