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.
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This specimen resembled several others of around the same size and perhaps the same species, which were pretty common in my February sample from the upper Yakima. Unfortunately, I misplaced the specimen before I could get it under a microscope for a definitive ID.
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Just a big old caddis larva
Just a big old caddis larva
By Troutnut on April 13th, 2023
I revisited the Yakima to see if I could find any more nymphs of the species I suspect to be Ephemerella mucronata, which is new to these parts, so I can try to raise the nymphs into adults and confirm. I did catch a couple. I also found this big caddis larva and tested out some new techniques with my camera gear, with mixed results.
Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Yakima River in Washington
This specimen appears to be of the same species as this one collected in the same spot two months earlier. The identification of both is tentative. This one suffered some physical damage before being photographed, too, so the colors aren't totally natural. I was mostly photographing it to test out some new camera setting idea, which worked really well for a couple of closeups.