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.

Cedar sweepers line the fertile spring creek headwaters of a famous trout stream.

From the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

Stream photos

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Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Skwala (Perlodidae) (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

This Skwala nymph still has a couple months left to go before hatching, but it's still a good representative of its species, which was extremely abundant in my sample for a stonefly of this size. It's obvious why the Yakima is known for its Skwala hatch.

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.

Great Speckled Olive Duns

This common name refers to only one species. Click its scientific name to learn more.

Mayfly Species Siphloplecton basale

These are often called Great Speckled Olive Duns.

Sadly, the largest mayflies of the early season come in small quantities. Siphloplecton basale matches the impressive size of the Ephemera drakes which follow two months later, but it does not match their numbers. It is common on one of my favorite rivers to see ten to fifteen of these elegant drakes dancing over a riffle in the early Spring. They are difficult to miss in the air, but on the water that quantity cannot get the trout or the angler excited.

There are rumors of fishable Siphloplecton days, but I know none of the details. They might be locally important in places angler-entomologists have yet to visit in the prime months, an unsung local treasure like Baetisca laurentina.

Male Siphloplecton basale (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Dun

5 Pictures

Lateral view of a Male Siphloplecton basale (Metretopodidae) (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

This one hatched on the same April Saturday that I saw the first Hendricksons of the season.

Collected April 23, 2004 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Collected April 23, 2004 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Male Siphloplecton basale (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner

6 Pictures

Lateral view of a Male Siphloplecton basale (Metretopodidae) (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Spinner from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

I went to great comical lengths to swipe this spinner from the air with a little aquarium net I carry with me while I'm fishing. Siphloplecton basale spinners fly fast and high over the riffles, and there are never very many of them, so they're difficult to catch.

Collected May 7, 2004 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Collected May 7, 2004 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Siphloplecton basale (Pseudo-Gray Drake) Mayfly Nymph

4 Pictures