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.
Most physical descriptions on Troutnut are direct or slightly edited quotes from the original scientific sources describing or updating the species, although there may be errors in copying them to this website. Such descriptions aren't always definitive, because species often turn out to be more variable than the original describers observed. In some cases, only a single specimen was described! However, they are useful starting points.
Source: Sierracapnia, A New Genus Of Capniidae (Plecoptera) From Western North America
Male. Tergum 7 knob tall, thin, and narrowly divided at apex (knob height 30 - 35 % of segment 7 height; knob width 14 - 15 % of segment 7 width) (Figs. 34, 37). Epiproct in dorsal view with uniform width along length, maximum width 18 - 24 % of epiproct length; maximum width occurs anterior of mid epiproct; apex rounded or wedge-shaped, with a long thin posterior-projecting lobe (Fig. 35); dorsal membrane light colored. Epiproct in lateral view with a shallow reverse (S-shaped) curve dorsally and deep curve ventrally; maximum depth 25 - 30 % of length; maximum depth occurs in anterior third of epiproct; apex elongated and raised, with thin median lip that wraps around tip of eversible crest; neck narrow (Figs. 34, 36). Dorsolateral horns arch high above main epiproct body, exposing membrane of eversible crest in lateral view; horn length 18 - 21 % epiproct length; horn tips extend forward to 85 - 88 % of epiproct length (Fig. 36; Table 1).
Female. Subgenital plate heavily sclerotized and dark, plate covers entire width of sternum 8 from its posterior to anterior edge, sclerotization extends onto posterior third of sternum 7 (Fig. 257, Nelson and Baumann 1989).