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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.

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.
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Crayfish, Scuds, and Sowbugs

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

Arthropod Class Crustacea-Malacostraca

These are pretty much always called Crayfish, Scuds, and Sowbugs.
Crustaceans are classified as one of those inconvenient intermediate taxonomic levels, the subphylum. The varieties of interest to trout anglers are in the class Malacostraca.

It contains the orders of scuds (Amphipoda), sowbugs (Isopoda), opossum or mysis shrimp (Mysida), and crayish (Decapoda). Crayfish and scuds are both extremely important trout prey.
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
Dorsal view of a Cambaridae Crayfish Juvenile from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

Crayfish, Scuds, and Sowbugs

Scientific Name
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