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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.
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.

Updates from April 23, 2007

Updates from April 23, 2007

Photos by Troutnut from Mystery Creek #62 in New York

Mystery Creek # 62 in New York

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the West Branch of Owego Creek and Factory Brook in New York

Giant water bug. This dangerous aquatic predator belongs to the species Belostoma flumineum, in a family known as the "toebiters"

Artistic view of a Belostoma flumineum (Belostomatidae) (Electric Light Bug) Giant Water Bug Adult from the West Branch of Owego Creek in New York
I'm glad I finally got one of these Belostoma water bugs under my good camera. I had been hoping to get one in my kick-net samples for a while with no luck, but I ended up finding this one drifting midstream just below the surface while I fished. I have frequently seen water scorpions do that, too, and I'm beginning to suspect that is a common situation travel for these large Hemiptera bugs, and perhaps the way trout are used to seeing them.
Artistic view of a Nigronia serricornis (Corydalidae) (Fishfly) Hellgrammite Larva from Factory Brook in New York
I unfortunately lost some of the originals of this specimen, so I was only able to re-process about half the pictures in the 2023 update.
Dorsal view of a Epeorus (Heptageniidae) (Little Maryatt) Mayfly Nymph from Factory Brook in New York

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