Troutnut: Fly Fishing and Hatch Knowledge, Photos, and Discussions : Blog, page 97

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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.

Slough Creek in Wyoming

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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
In General Discussion by Konchu (Smallflyguy replied)

Re: Fishing Kupa River, Slovenia
In Fishing Reports by Slocum (Fish1 replied)

Zapada cinctipes (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph Zapada cinctipes (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Zapada cinctipes (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

Nymphs of this species were fairly common in late-winter kick net samples from the upper Yakima River. Although I could not find a key to species of Zapada nymphs, a revision of the Nemouridae family by Baumann (1975) includes the following helpful sentence: "2 cervical gills on each side of midline, 1 arising inside and 1 outside of lateral cervical sclerites, usually single and elongate, sometimes constricted but with 3 or 4 branches arising beyond gill base in Zapada cinctipes." This specimen clearly has the branches and is within the range of that species.

13 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 4, 2006

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Salmon Creek in New York

Isoperla (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult

Lateral view of a Isoperla (Perlodidae) (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult from Salmon Creek in New York

A friend brought me this stonefly to photograph. He found it floating on the surface of a trout stream with its wings in a crippled position.

Collected May 4, 2006 from Salmon Creek in New York

Added by Troutnut on May 22, 2006

Collected May 4, 2006 from Salmon Creek in New York and added by Troutnut on May 22, 2006

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Updates from April 28, 2006

Closeup insects by Bnewell from Boiling Springs Creek in Montana

Male Cinygmula (Dark Red Quill) Mayfly Dun

Male Cinygmula (Heptageniidae) (Dark Red Quill) Mayfly Dun from Boiling Springs Creek in Montana

Collected April 28, 2006 from Boiling Springs Creek in Montana

Added by Bnewell on June 28, 2011

Collected April 28, 2006 from Boiling Springs Creek in Montana and added by Bnewell on June 28, 2011

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Updates from April 18, 2006

Photos by Troutnut from Mongaup Creek in New York

Mongaup Creek in New York

Underwater photos by Troutnut from the East Branch of the Delaware River and Mongaup Creek in New York

I love this "above & below" landscape from a popular Catskill trout stream. The picture is not doctored to show both perspectives. Instead, my Pentax Optio WPi digital camera is able to take pictures with the tiny lens half-in, half-out of the water.

From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

Several Baetidae nymphs line up on a rock.

From Mongaup Creek in New York

This is a close-up underwater view of a stillborn Ephemerella subvaria (Henrickson) female dun.

From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

A Brachycentrus "Apple Caddis" pupa scoots around in the surface film. Apparently it had some difficulty emerging, so I was able to slip my camera underneath it and take a picture from below.

From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

This picture from below shows a stillborn Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) dun drifting on the surface amidst a number of shed pupal skins from Brachycentrus caddisflies which were heavily hatching that day.

From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

This Brachycentrus "Apple Caddis" struggled more than its kin in escaping its pupal skin, enabling me to take an underwater picture of it from directly below. This is sort of a trout's eye view, but I used the flash for the picture so the transparent shuck appears far brighter than it really is.

From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

Mongaup Creek in New York

Mongaup Creek in New York

Mongaup Creek in New York

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

Here's an above-the-water view of a stillborn Ephemerella subvaria dun which I also photographed from below the water.

From Mongaup Creek in New York

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Beaverkill River and Mongaup Creek in New York

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Male Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun

Lateral view of a Male Ephemerella subvaria (Ephemerellidae) (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York

I collected this male Hendrickson dun and a female in the pool on the Beaverkill where the popular Hendrickson pattern was first created. He is descended from mayfly royalty.

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Isonychia bicolor (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly Nymph

Artistic view of a Isonychia bicolor (Isonychiidae) (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York

This Isonychia bicolor nymph from the Catskills displays the prominent white stripe sometimes characteristic of its species. This is the first such specimen I've photographed, because members of the same species in the Upper Midwest have a more subdued stripe (and were once thought to be a different species, Isonychia sadleri). The striking coloration on this eastern nymph is more appealing.

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Peltoperla (Roachfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Peltoperla (Peltoperlidae) (Roachfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

This is the first specimen of the Peltoperlidae stonefly family that I've collected. It's very small and probably an early instar, but I'm not choosy about new bugs.

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Male Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner

Lateral view of a Male Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Spinner from Mongaup Creek in New York

I spent most of the day looking for Epeorus pluralis duns or spinners without any luck on the major Catskill rivers. Finally in the evening I arrived at a small stream somebody had recommended, and when I got out of the car I was happy to find that I had parked in the middle of a cloud of male spinners.

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Female Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun

Lateral view of a Female Ephemerella subvaria (Ephemerellidae) (Hendrickson) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York

I collected this female Hendrickson dun and a male in the pool on the Beaverkill where the popular Hendrickson pattern was first created. She is descended from mayfly royalty.

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Pteronarcys proteus (Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph

Artistic view of a Pteronarcys proteus (Pteronarcyidae) (Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

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Hexatoma True Fly Larva

Hexatoma (Limoniidae) True Fly Larva from Mongaup Creek in New York

I'm not sure if this cranefly larva is in the genus Hexatoma or Limnophila, but the habitat suggests Hexatoma. Its coloring is iridescent, and I've never heard of that before. However, there is an insect virus genus Iridovirus which can infect craneflies and causes iridescence. It has not been reported in this region as far as I can tell, but perhaps it is the culprit. It makes for beautiful pictures.

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Isogenoides hansoni (Appalachian Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Isogenoides hansoni (Perlodidae) (Appalachian Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

This large Perlodidae stonefly was a strikingly bright yellow color, more so than any other insect I've seen. I didn't enhance it much. See the discussion threads to follow how we identified this specimen, which was listed incorrectly for several years.

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Neoleptophlebia Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

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Ephemerella excrucians (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella excrucians (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

This specimen was collected together with a lighter one of the same species. It resembles another specimen from about 1300 miles away in Wisconsin, which I tentatively called Ephemerella needhami. This one has much less prominent abdominal tubercles. It may be that they're both the same species and I don't have my identifications straight.

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Ephemerella invaria (Sulphur) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella invaria (Ephemerellidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York

This small Ephemerella invaria nymph was at least a month away from emergence.

3
Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York

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Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York

5
Ephemerella excrucians (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella excrucians (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

This specimen was collected together with a darker one of the same species.

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Female Baetis (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun

Lateral view of a Female Baetis (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from Mongaup Creek in New York

This little early-season dun molted into this spinner after I photographed her.

4
Epeorus pleuralis (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Epeorus pleuralis (Heptageniidae) (Quill Gordon) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

This Epeorus pluralis dun is recently deceased in these photos. I decided not to photograph several lively, less mature nymphs. This one was ready to hatch, as indicated by the black wing pads. I believe it had not been dead long enough to lose its natural coloration.

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Rhithrogena impersonata (Dark Red Quill) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Rhithrogena impersonata (Heptageniidae) (Dark Red Quill) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

This was the only Rhithrogena specimen in a large sample of nymphs from a small Catskill stream. It looks virtually identical to Rhithrogena impersonata specimens collected in the Midwest, but I didn't get to check the distinguishing features under a microscope.

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Isonychia bicolor (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Isonychia bicolor (Isonychiidae) (Mahogany Dun) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York

4
Stenonema vicarium (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Stenonema vicarium (Heptageniidae) (March Brown) Mayfly Nymph from the Beaverkill River in New York

I photographed this Maccaffertium vicarium nymph shortly after it molted to a new instar in my holding container. Many nymphs take on drastically different coloration immediately after molting, and this species is no exception.

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Female Paraleptophlebia (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun

Lateral view of a Female Paraleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York

I really hoped to catch some good blue quill specimens on this trip, but they are very fragile mayflies and this one was in the best condition of the few that I caught after I drove them home to my camera. It may not be pretty, but you get an idea of the size/shape/color anyway.

4
Female Baetis (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Spinner

Lateral view of a Female Baetis (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Spinner from Mongaup Creek in New York

I captured and photographed this specimen as a dun before she molted into the spinner photographed here. Her wings got a bit torn up in the process.

3
Cinygmula subaequalis (Small Gordon Quill) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Cinygmula subaequalis (Heptageniidae) (Small Gordon Quill) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

I had heard reports of a bright red heptageniid nymph before but never seen one until I found this early instar specimen in a very high water quality small stream in the Catskills.

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Updates from April 5, 2006

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Updates from March 28, 2006

Underwater photos by Troutnut from Salmon Creek in New York

Here's one of my first test underwater pictures with the Pentax Optio WPi. It's a very shallow riffle in a clear trout stream.

From Salmon Creek in New York

This flash photo freezes the turbulent underside of a shallow riffle in a clear trout stream.

From Salmon Creek in New York

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Salmon Creek and Fall Creek in New York

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Nigronia serricornis (Fishfly) Hellgrammite Larva

A fishfly larva. This fishfly (genus Nigonia) is closely related in appearance to Hellgrammites

Artistic view of a Nigronia serricornis (Corydalidae) (Fishfly) Hellgrammite Larva from Salmon Creek in New York

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Stenonema (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Stenonema (Heptageniidae) (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York

4
Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella subvaria (Ephemerellidae) (Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York

I've never seen this strange coloration on any Ephemerella subvaria nymph in a book before, but it's similar to several other specimens I collected on the same outing, including a smaller one that I photographed. They were outnumbered by the "normal" Ephemerella subvaria nymphs in the sample.

7
Amphipoda (Scud) Arthropod Adult

A freshwater amphipod (scud). Tiny crustacean common to many freshwater environments

Dorsal view of a Amphipoda (Scud) Arthropod Adult from Salmon Creek in New York

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Agnetina capitata (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Agnetina capitata (Perlidae) (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York

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Psephenus (Water Penny) Beetle Larva

Here's a "water penny" (a Psephenidae beetle larva) crawling around on a real penny.

Artistic view of a Psephenus (Psephenidae) (Water Penny) Beetle Larva from Fall Creek in New York

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Leptophlebia cupida (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Leptophlebia cupida (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph from Fall Creek in New York

6
Capniidae (Snowfly) Stonefly Adult

Dorsal view of a Capniidae (Snowfly) Stonefly Adult from Salmon Creek in New York

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Taeniopterygidae (Willowfly) Stonefly Adult

Dorsal view of a Taeniopterygidae (Willowfly) Stonefly Adult from Salmon Creek in New York

3
Chironomidae (Midge) True Fly Larva

Lateral view of a Chironomidae (Midge) True Fly Larva from Salmon Creek in New York

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Ameletus ludens (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Ameletus ludens (Ameletidae) (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York

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Prostoia (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Prostoia (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York

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Acroneuria abnormis (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph

Perlidae stonefly nymph. A large predator of clean freshwater streams

Acroneuria abnormis (Perlidae) (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph from Fall Creek in New York

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Pedicia albivitta (Giant Eastern Crane Fly) True Fly Larva

Dorsal view of a Pedicia albivitta (Pediciidae) (Giant Eastern Crane Fly) True Fly Larva from Fall Creek in New York

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Calopteryx Damselfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Calopteryx (Calopterygidae) Damselfly Nymph from Fall Creek in New York

3
Chironomidae (Midge) True Fly Adult

Dorsal view of a Chironomidae (Midge) True Fly Adult from Salmon Creek in New York

5
Hexatoma True Fly Larva

Dorsal view of a Hexatoma (Limoniidae) True Fly Larva from Salmon Creek in New York

3
Capniidae (Snowfly) Stonefly Adult

Lateral view of a Capniidae (Snowfly) Stonefly Adult from Salmon Creek in New York

This drowned Capniidae adult showed up in my drift net sample while I was looking for nymphs. I took photos of the drowned adult in water like a nymph.

2
Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella subvaria (Ephemerellidae) (Hendrickson) Mayfly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York

I've never seen this strange coloration on any Ephemerella subvaria nymph in a book before, but it's similar to several other specimens I collected on the same outing, including a larger one that I photographed. They were outnumbered by the "normal" Ephemerella subvaria nymphs in the sample.

4
Ephemera varia (Yellow Drake) Mayfly Nymph

A burrowing mayfly nymph. The juvenile stage of the brown drake, Ephemera simulans

Dorsal view of a Ephemera varia (Ephemeridae) (Yellow Drake) Mayfly Nymph from Fall Creek in New York

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Neoleptophlebia Mayfly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from Salmon Creek in New York

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References

Baumann, Richard W. 1975. Revision of the Stonefly Family Nemouridae (plecoptera) : a Study Of The World Fauna At The Generic Level. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology undef(211): 1-74.

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