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 Holocentropus (Polycentropodidae) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This one seems to tentatively key to Holocentropus, although I can't make out the anal spines in Couplet 7 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae nor the dark bands in Couplet 4 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, making me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in keying it out. I don't see where that could have happened, though. It might also be that it's a very immature larva and doesn't possess all the identifying characteristics in the key yet. If Holocentropus is correct, then Holocentropus flavus and Holocentropus interruptus are the two likely possibilities based on range, but I was not able to find a description of their larvae.
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.

Fly Anglers

Fly Anglers

Sometimes our experience on the stream is worth documenting, too. These are my best pictures of fly anglers.

The Namekagon River in Wisconsin
Casting in the Titcomb Basin outlet stream

From Titcomb Basin in Wyoming
Fishing the inlet to Upper Titcomb with no luck

From Titcomb Basin in Wyoming
Titcomb Basin in Wyoming
Slough Creek in Wyoming
I was up close to this pool watching these two trout when one of them swam in close to me. I froze and waited several minutes for it to move away.
Here I was fighting the largest brown trout I've ever had on the end of my line. I never landed it.
Mystery Creek # 186 in Alaska
Here my dad's fighting a very nice arctic grayling, and this photo caught it mid-jump at the end of his line.  This one eventually shook the hook, but we both caught many more in the same size range.

From the Chena River in Alaska
This colorful brown was my dad's first nice trout on a dry fly.  It was also the best of the day, taken with a nice cast after doing some slightly crazy wading through silt and deep water to get into position.

From the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin
My friend Ian throws a fine cast in a section of river that's open year-round.  From the bridge, we spotted a very nice brown nymphing, but neither of us could get it to take.

From Willowemoc Creek in New York
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy