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.

Stream photos

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Female Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Adult Female 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.

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.

Salmon Spinners

Like most common names,"Salmon Spinner" can refer to more than one taxon. They're previewed below, along with 9 specimens. For more detail click through to the scientific names.

Mayfly Genus Stenacron

These are very rarely called Salmon Spinners.

The species in this genus were formerly classified in Stenonema. See the genus Maccaffertium for details. Only one species, Stenacron interpunctatum, is important to fly fishermen. See its page for details.

Male Stenacron (Light Cahill) Mayfly Dun

13 Pictures

Artistic view of a Male Stenacron (Heptageniidae) (Light Cahill) Mayfly Dun from the Teal River in Wisconsin

Collected May 26, 2005 from the Teal River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on May 22, 2006

Collected May 26, 2005 from the Teal River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on May 22, 2006

Male Stenacron interpunctatum (Light Cahill) Mayfly Spinner

8 Pictures

Lateral view of a Male Stenacron interpunctatum (Heptageniidae) (Light Cahill) Mayfly Spinner from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

Collected June 9, 2005 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on May 26, 2006

Collected June 9, 2005 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on May 26, 2006

Stenacron (Light Cahill) Mayfly Nymph

2 Pictures

Stenacron (Heptageniidae) (Light Cahill) Mayfly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin

Collected August 7, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on January 18, 2006

Collected August 7, 2004 from unknown in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on January 18, 2006

See 5 more specimens...

Mayfly Species Epeorus albertae

These are very rarely called Salmon Spinners.

This is one of the two most common Western species of Epeorus, and its spinner falls can be important.

Female Epeorus albertae (Pink Lady) Mayfly Dun

7 Pictures

Artistic view of a Female Epeorus albertae (Heptageniidae) (Pink Lady) Mayfly Dun from the North Fork Stillaguamish River in Washington

Collected July 10, 2017 from the North Fork Stillaguamish River in Washington

Added by Troutnut on July 12, 2017

Collected July 10, 2017 from the North Fork Stillaguamish River in Washington and added by Troutnut on July 12, 2017

Male Epeorus albertae (Pink Lady) Mayfly Spinner

14 Pictures

Lateral view of a Male Epeorus albertae (Heptageniidae) (Pink Lady) Mayfly Spinner from the North Fork Stillaguamish River in Washington

Collected July 10, 2017 from the North Fork Stillaguamish River in Washington

Added by Troutnut on July 12, 2017

Collected July 10, 2017 from the North Fork Stillaguamish River in Washington and added by Troutnut on July 12, 2017

Epeorus albertae (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph

5 Pictures

Dorsal view of a Epeorus albertae (Heptageniidae) (Pink Lady) Mayfly Nymph from the East Fork Issaquah Creek in Washington

This specimen keys to the Epeorus albertae group of species. Of the five species in that group, the two known in Washington state are Epeorus albertae and Epeorus dulciana. Of the two, albertae has been collected in vastly more locations in Washington than dulciana, suggesting it is far more common. On that basis alone I'm tentatively putting this nymph in albertae, with the large caveat that there's no real information to rule out dulciana.

Collected February 17, 2023 from the East Fork Issaquah Creek in Washington

Added by Troutnut on February 20, 2023

Collected February 17, 2023 from the East Fork Issaquah Creek in Washington and added by Troutnut on February 20, 2023

See 10 more specimens...

Mayfly Species Epeorus vitreus

These are very rarely called Salmon Spinners.

This is the second most common Epeorus species in the East and Midwest. Most anglers will encounter sporadic hatches of Epeorus vitreus once in a while, and sometimes a more concentrated emergence causes a good rise of fish.

Male Epeorus vitreus (Sulphur) Mayfly Dun

4 Pictures

Male Epeorus vitreus (Heptageniidae) (Sulphur) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York

This is my favorite mayfly from 2004, and it appears on my popular Be the Trout: Eat Mayflies products. Check them out!

Its identification is really up in the air. It might be a late-season vitreus dun but it may very well be one of the more obscure species in that genus.

Collected September 1, 2004 from the Beaverkill River in New York

Added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Collected September 1, 2004 from the Beaverkill River in New York and added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Female Epeorus vitreus (Sulphur) Mayfly Spinner

8 Pictures