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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.

This is one of the many shallow, unnamed lakes in the Arctic coastal plain near the Dalton Highway. From Dalton Highway in Alaska

Stream photos

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Re: Trico emergers
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Female Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly AdultFemale Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Adult
Lateral view of a Female Skwala (Perlodidae) (Large Springfly) 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.
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Updates from September 16, 2006

Photos by Troutnut from Toughannock Creek in New York

I believe this is the highest free-falling waterfall in the East. The pool below it is off-limits to fishing but probably isn't that great, anyway -- by all accounts the stream's trout population is mediocre at best. From Toughannock Creek in New York
Toughannock Creek in New York
Toughannock Creek in New York
This gorge reportedly holds trout, and I would love to fish for them, although the stream's marginal thermal temperature would likely lead to disappointment. It's hard to find out because there doesn't seem to be a way to get down there without professional rock-climbing equipment or a helicopter... From Toughannock Creek in New York
It just feels wrong that no trout rose up from this ledge pool to smack a Royal Wulff. There doesn't seem to be much of a trout population here. From Toughannock Creek in New York
Toughannock Creek in New York
A dizzying waterfall. From Toughannock Creek in New York
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Updates from September 14, 2006

Photos by Troutnut from Sandy Creek in New York

This Lake Ontario tributary was seemingly devoid of big fish in mid-September. From Sandy Creek in New York
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Updates from September 8, 2006

Photos by Troutnut

This is a very deep pool in a very clear stream. It's well-known for its brookies, but I neither saw nor caught any in this inviting pool. I drove a few miles upstream and ran into the expected number of eager little fish.
This small stream's so clear it looks like a swimming pool in this really deep spot.

On-stream insect photos by Troutnut

This winged ant was on a mossy rock in the middle of a small stream.
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Updates from September 7, 2006

Photos by Troutnut from Mystery Creek #89, the Neversink River, the East Branch of Trout Brook, and the Beaverkill River in New York

I caught several wild and colorful 8-9 inch brook trout in the clear little pool below this waterfall. From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
For how many years, I wonder, have these huge slabs of rock sheltered wild brook trout? From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Do you ever have so much fun trying to fool a fish that you're almost disappointed when you actually do? I got that feeling after who knows how many casts over this hungry little brown with a Trico imitation.
This pretty little mountain valley pond held several browns and brookies, not huge but outsized for their small stream, and the water was so clear I could sight-fish for them across half the pond. There was also a school of bullheads swimming laps. From the East Branch of Trout Brook in New York
Of all the pools I've fished, this one was most deserving of the colorful little brook trout it held. From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
The East Branch of Trout Brook in New York
This little pool shelters some eager small-stream brook trout. You can see this pool from underwater, too. From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
The East Branch of Trout Brook in New York
This old artificial dam (possibly the former site of a bridge) creates a nice little trout pond upstream. From the East Branch of Trout Brook in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Oops. I let my little light cahill spinner dangle in the air a bit too long while looking for rises. There were at least 30 bats flying around the pool, and this one hooked itself on my fly. I just let it fly around my rod tip and, while trying to figure out what to do, I took some pictures. (When in doubt...) Eventually it managed to unhook itself and fly away. From the Beaverkill River in New York
The Neversink River in New York
The Neversink River in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
No method of casting in my arsenal was capable of presenting a fly to the brook trout in this hidden pool. From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
Twinkling Tricos in the air. From the Neversink River in New York

Underwater photos by Troutnut from Mystery Creek #89 and the East Branch of Trout Brook in New York

Here's another view of the pool under the waterfall shown in this picture. This time one of the pool's many brook trout is visible, but well-camouflaged. Can you find it? From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
This little pool shelters some eager small-stream brook trout, though I caught or frightened them before I took the picture. You can see this pool from above the water, too. From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
The rock wall across the picture is at least 15 feet away -- this is extremely clear water in a tiny Catskill stream. This plunge pool to a large waterfall holds many brook trout in the 8-9 inch range but they hide too well to spot in this photo. From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York
I tried to photograph this salamander but it kept scurrying away from the camera. The rocks in this little backwater are covered with a thin layer of very easily disturbed silt, so anywhere I followed it I didn't have much time to photograph before the water was too turbid for a good shot. This is the best I got. From the East Branch of Trout Brook in New York

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the East Branch of the Delaware River and the Neversink River in New York

15
Male Neoleptophlebia Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Male Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Spinner from the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York
I wasn't actually fishing the river where I caught this one. I was just scouting, didn't like the look of the water, and as I was walking back to the car this little dun landed on my vest. Why can't they all be so easy to collect?
9
Female Tricorythodes (Trico) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Tricorythodes (Leptohyphidae) (Trico) Mayfly Spinner from the Neversink River in New York
I photographed this Trico alive, although it didn't have much time left. These things die very quickly after they mate and it's hard to rush them back to the studio.
7
Female Tricorythodes (Trico) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Tricorythodes (Leptohyphidae) (Trico) Mayfly Spinner from the Neversink River in New York
This Trico was alive in the photos but didn't pose well.
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Female Tricorythodes (Trico) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Tricorythodes (Leptohyphidae) (Trico) Mayfly Spinner from the Neversink River in New York
This recently deceased Trico was smaller and darker than the others I photographed from the same morning.
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Updates from September 6, 2006

Photos by Troutnut from East Kill, the West Branch of the Neversink River, Esopus Creek, and Schoharie Creek in New York

There's a really deep pool below this bridge on a relatively small Catskill stream. From East Kill in New York
This small stream splits around a large island. From East Kill in New York
It's a real shame that this beautiful piece of Catskill water is off-limits to the public. It was tempting to cast from the road itself. From the West Branch of the Neversink River in New York
Esopus Creek in New York
Esopus Creek in New York
The West Branch of the Neversink River in New York
The West Branch of the Neversink River in New York
Esopus Creek in New York
Esopus Creek in New York
Esopus Creek in New York
Schoharie Creek in New York
Schoharie Creek in New York
There's a really deep pool below this bridge (with seemingly posted property around it) and I saw some fish swimming around, probably some of them trout around 10-12 inches. From Schoharie Creek in New York
Schoharie Creek in New York
Schoharie Creek in New York
Schoharie Creek in New York
Schoharie Creek in New York
Schoharie Creek in New York
Esopus Creek in New York
Schoharie Creek in New York

On-stream insect photos by Troutnut from Schoharie Creek in New York

Schoharie Creek in New York
This is just about the most Isonychia bicolor shucks I've ever seen on the rocks, and appropriately enough they're on the river where Art Flick described them in his Streamside Guide. From Schoharie Creek in New York
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