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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Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington

As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.

7 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.

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Updates from July 12, 2005

Photos by Troutnut from the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

My girlfriend casts amidst a mix of bugs hatching in mid-July from a Catskill stream.

From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

A large, slow Catskill trout river meanders in the shadow of a mountain.

From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

The East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the East Branch of the Delaware River and Miscellaneous New York in New York

Male Afghanurus inconspicua Mayfly Dun

14 Pictures

Lateral view of a Male Afghanurus inconspicua (Heptageniidae) Mayfly Dun from the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

This pretty little dun was part of a sparse midsummer evening hatch on a large Catskill river.

I could not identify it by following a species key step by step, but I tentatively keyed it to the genus Nixe, and based on distribution maps and physical descriptions the most likely species is Nixe inconspicua. (Edit in 2023: this species was recently moved from Nixe into Afghanurus.)

Collected July 12, 2005 from the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York

Added by Troutnut on April 14, 2006

Collected July 12, 2005 from the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York and added by Troutnut on April 14, 2006

Female Stenacron (Light Cahill) Mayfly Spinner

4 Pictures