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.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.

I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.

The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.

Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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.

Fly fishing, fly tying, aquatic entomology, fishing gear, rivers, trout and salmon science, and conservation issues.
Topic
Replies
Last Reply
Czech Nymphing
Jun 12, 2011 by Motrout
17
Jun 28, 2011
by Jesse
USGS Topo Maps
Jun 27, 2011 by Shawnny3
1
Jun 27, 2011
by Konchu
Butterflies!!
Jun 19, 2011 by Adirman
10
Jun 27, 2011
by Entoman
Hey, Jason
Jun 24, 2011 by Wiflyfisher
5
Jun 26, 2011
by Wiflyfisher
Cornutas [Page: 1, 2]
Jun 14, 2011 by Adirman
34
Jun 20, 2011
by Oldredbarn
4
Jun 16, 2011
by Troutnut
Mixed bag
Jun 7, 2011 by Jmd123
2
Jun 7, 2011
by Jmd123
Water temps
May 24, 2011 by Motrout
19
Jun 3, 2011
by PaulRoberts
Back to Colorado
May 27, 2011 by Motrout
3
May 27, 2011
by Motrout
South Holston
Mar 3, 2011 by Wbranch
6
May 24, 2011
by JOHNW
3
May 21, 2011
by Keystoner
Fly selection [Page: 1, 2] Featured Topic
Apr 12, 2011 by Dryfly
24
May 4, 2011
by PaulRoberts
2
May 4, 2011
by PaulRoberts
What hatch???
May 3, 2011 by Keystoner
6
May 4, 2011
by PaulRoberts
17
May 2, 2011
by JOHNW
24
Apr 23, 2011
by Entoman
New Entry
Apr 11, 2011 by Hooked
4
Apr 21, 2011
by Motrout
37
Apr 21, 2011
by CaseyP
2011 Painting
Apr 10, 2011 by Softhackle
2
Apr 13, 2011
by Shawnny3
3
Apr 13, 2011
by Adirman
Crazy Weather
Mar 28, 2011 by Motrout
15
Apr 6, 2011
by Jmd123
2
Mar 22, 2011
by Falsifly
Spring
Mar 16, 2011 by Falsifly
1
Mar 16, 2011
by Motrout
Free FFM
Mar 13, 2011 by Wbranch
1
Mar 14, 2011
by Martinlf
2
Mar 13, 2011
by Streamer
High water events
Mar 11, 2011 by Wbranch
0
2
Mar 10, 2011
by Mike1974
2
Mar 8, 2011
by Benjlan
5
Feb 21, 2011
by Jmd123
"March Madness"
Feb 15, 2011 by Falsifly
9
Feb 17, 2011
by Jmd123
7
Feb 17, 2011
by Oldredbarn
Caught or naught? [Page: 1, 2, 3, 4]
Dec 15, 2010 by Falsifly
70
Feb 14, 2011
by Jmd123
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy