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.

The "Fountain Flats" stretch of the Firehole was fishable in the morning after an uncharacteristically cold August night.

From the Firehole River in Wyoming

Stream photos

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Onocosmoecus (Great Late-Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Onocosmoecus (Great Late-Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Lateral view of a Onocosmoecus (Limnephilidae) (Great Late-Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

This specimen keys pretty easily to Onocosmoecus, and it closely resembles a specimen from Alaska which caddis expert Dave Ruiter recognized as this genus. As with that specimen, the only species in the genus documented in this area is Onocosmoecus unicolor, but Dave suggested for that specimen that there might be multiple not-yet-distinguished species under the unicolor umbrella and it would be best to stick with the genus-level ID. I'm doing the same for this one.

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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.

Female Eurylophella (Chocolate Dun) Mayfly Spinner Pictures

This Ephemerellidae spinner was emerging unusually late, and on a warm stream. Since it's a female, identification is difficult. Her identical coloration suggests she's probably of the same species as this specimen collected on a cool trout stream almost a month earlier.

Lateral view of a Female Eurylophella (Ephemerellidae) (Chocolate Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

Female Eurylophella (Ephemerellidae) (Chocolate Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

Ventral view of a Female Eurylophella (Ephemerellidae) (Chocolate Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

Oblique lighting and false color illuminate the vein patterns in this completely transparent hind wing.

Female Eurylophella (Ephemerellidae) (Chocolate Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

These strangely lighted and enhanced "wingprint" photos can help with the identification of some species even when the veins are clear.

Female Eurylophella (Ephemerellidae) (Chocolate Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

Dorsal view of a Female Eurylophella (Ephemerellidae) (Chocolate Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin

This mayfly was collected from the West Fork of the Chippewa River in Wisconsin on July 28th, 2005 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 14th, 2006.

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