This process isn't as interesting to fly fishers as the emergence of a dun from a nymph on the water's surface. This is a point in the mayfly's development at which it's temporarily safe from the trout, but it's interesting to watch up close anyway.
![Several craneflies formed a mating cluster here in a dark rootwad along the bank of a large limestone trout stream. Several craneflies formed a mating cluster here in a dark rootwad along the bank of a large limestone trout stream.](/im_article/picture_93_large.jpg)
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![I'm not sure what these clusters of grannoms are doing lying dead and mostly upside down in clusters on the rocks. Anyone have an explanation? I'm not sure what these clusters of grannoms are doing lying dead and mostly upside down in clusters on the rocks. Anyone have an explanation?](/im_article/picture_96_large.jpg)
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![Here's a fresh ball of eggs from a Hendrickson spinner, photographed to show the proper color for the egg-ball on spinner patterns. Here's a fresh ball of eggs from a Hendrickson spinner, photographed to show the proper color for the egg-ball on spinner patterns.](/im_article/picture_98_large.jpg)
![The underside of a freshly emerged Ephemerella invaria dun. The underside of a freshly emerged Ephemerella invaria dun.](/im_article/picture_99_large.jpg)
![This Ephemerella invaria sulphur dun got stuck in its shuck trying to emerge. This isn't exactly a "natural" pose for a photograph, but it kind of shows what an emerger pattern could look like. This Ephemerella invaria sulphur dun got stuck in its shuck trying to emerge. This isn't exactly a "natural" pose for a photograph, but it kind of shows what an emerger pattern could look like.](/im_article/picture_100_large.jpg)
![I saw something strange flying around near the streambank, fluttering on and off the water's surface, so I went to check it out. I didn't recognize the wing profile in flight, and it's no surprise! These two caddisflies were joined mating, and they were very reluctant to let go. I saw something strange flying around near the streambank, fluttering on and off the water's surface, so I went to check it out. I didn't recognize the wing profile in flight, and it's no surprise! These two caddisflies were joined mating, and they were very reluctant to let go.](/im_article/picture_101_large.jpg)
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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.
Some recently uncovered stories show why my Great Uncle Joe was the "Original Troutnut," among other adventurous titles.
Guest author Tomaž Modic shares this piece about the history of the "F-fly," a simple but extremely effective fly pattern little known in the states but very popular in its country of origin, Slovenia, and elsewhere in Europe.
When mayfly duns pop out of the water and fly away, they aren't yet officially "adults." They have one more step before they're ready to mate: to perch on streamside vegetation and molt one more time into the stage scientists call "imago" and we call "spinner." This article shows step-by-step close-up photos of a Leptophlebia cupida (Black Quill) dun molting into a spinner, and it explains what's going on inside the mayfly.