Header image
Enter a name
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 Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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 August 16, 2018

Updates from August 16, 2018

Photos by Troutnut from the Madison River, Rock Creek, and the Jefferson River in Montana

The Madison River in Montana
The famous Madison River

From the Madison River in Montana
This little brown saved me from officially skunking on my first trip to the Madison, which saw several larger fish swipe at streamers or big dry flies but no hookups in the midday sun.
Rock Creek in Montana
Rock Creek in Montana
This cow moose watched me from a slough upstream while I fished a good pool on Rock Creek.

From Rock Creek in Montana
Rock Creek in Montana
The Jefferson River in Montana
The Jefferson River in Montana
The Madison River in Montana
The Madison River in Montana
The Madison River in Montana
Rock Creek in Montana
Rock Creek in Montana
Rock Creek in Montana

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Rock Creek in Montana

Lateral view of a Male Cinygmula (Heptageniidae) (Dark Red Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Rock Creek in Montana
This male was collected from the same cloud of spinners as this female and is probably the same species. I'm tentatively calling them both Cinygmula for now, but I'm really not sure about that ID yet.
Lateral view of a Female Cinygmula (Heptageniidae) (Dark Red Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Rock Creek in Montana
This female was collected from the same spinner cloud as this male.

Quick Reply

Related Discussions

Topic
Replies
Last Reply
9
Jun 28, 2007
by Troutnut
4
Nov 9, 2018
by Unsinkable1

References

Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy