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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.

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.
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 June 28, 2007

Updates from June 28, 2007

Photos by Troutnut from the Chatanika River in Alaska

The Chatanika River in Alaska
Here's the first of many new pictures of Alaska that I'll be putting online as soon as I get the chance. It's a panorama of my dad standing and looking across the valley of the river where we both caught our first arctic grayling an hour or so later.

You've got to see it full-size to appreciate it.

From the Chatanika River in Alaska
My dad went to great lengths to place a good cast above this high spruce sweeper into a little back slough where he saw a grayling rise.  The cast was good, he assures me, but the grayling did not take.

From the Chatanika River in Alaska
Here's a little bigger arctic grayling from my first day fishing for them.
My dad's first arctic grayling.

From the Chatanika River in Alaska
The Chatanika River in Alaska
The Chatanika River in Alaska
Another entry into my "dad dropping a fish" series.  Here he's dropping his first arctic grayling back in the drink.  It was still on the hook, so we got a better picture shortly.

From the Chatanika River in Alaska
Here's my first arctic grayling, about 8 inches long.  I was just thrilled to have caught my first grayling; I had no idea I would go on to catch 25 more (mostly larger), and that the next day would make this one look slow!

From the Chatanika River in Alaska
My dad walks back to the car after a few hours catching grayling.

From the Chatanika River in Alaska

Closeup insects by Bnewell from the Jocko River and Dog Lake in Montana

Female Drunella grandis (Ephemerellidae) (Western Green Drake) Mayfly Dun from the Jocko River in Montana
Leptophlebia cupida (Leptophlebiidae) (Black Quill) Mayfly Nymph from Dog Lake in Montana

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