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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.
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Photos by Troutnut from Titcomb Basin in Wyoming

Eleven inch golden trout
Ten inch golden trout
Casting in the Titcomb Basin outlet stream

From Titcomb Basin in Wyoming

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Island Lake in Wyoming

Lateral view of a Female Siphlonurus occidentalis (Siphlonuridae) (Gray Drake) Mayfly Dun from Island Lake in Wyoming
I caught this specimen two days' walk from my macro lenses, but I don't think I have a dun of this species yet, so I took the best photos I could with my iPhone.

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Jun 28, 2007
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