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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.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.

I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.

The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.

Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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.

West has attached these 10 pictures. The message is below.
My good friend Brad the Afton Angler put me in position for this beautiful late summer steelhead.
My most grand catch of the summer, 20 golden inches, caught 1/4 of a mile from my summer work home.  The fish took a size 8 girdle bug dead drifted.
My hex fishing partner.
The most beautiful resident rainbow that I have ever witnessed.
I caught this 16" brown twice last summer.
My friend Nate with the locally famous "Penny."
My nymph box.
This brown had not a single red spot on it.  I've never seen another like it in the stream I was fishing
My first lake run brown.
West
West's profile picture
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Posts: 46
West on Dec 23, 2007December 23rd, 2007, 1:12 pm EST
Here are a few pictures for the northwoods angler to drool over as the snow piles up. As my friends get pumped up to go skiing, I long more and more for the next fishing season. All of the fish in these photos were released. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

...and a few more on 12/24/07.
West

http://pleasantly-obsessed.blogspot.com/
IEatimago
Spring Mills, PA

Posts: 97
IEatimago on Dec 23, 2007December 23rd, 2007, 3:02 pm EST
amazing!! thanks for sharing ,
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Dec 23, 2007December 23rd, 2007, 7:46 pm EST
Cool photos, West! Got any more?

That rainbow looks really good for WI, but I like that brown best!
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
West
West's profile picture
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Posts: 46
West on Dec 24, 2007December 24th, 2007, 2:53 am EST
Thanks for deleting my "mistake" post, Jason. I added a few more pics also...
West

http://pleasantly-obsessed.blogspot.com/
AftonAngler
Brule, WI

Posts: 49
AftonAngler on Jan 27, 2008January 27th, 2008, 6:25 am EST
Good Stuff West...

Boy we made some good memories last summer eh?

I can hardly wait to see what you come up with this next season. I got so much joy watching you get out on those "between work" fishing excursions...it was always cool to get your report when you checked in.

Too bad TroutNut is so far off...we could put a heck of a Team together to really get on those big, old trophy fish that perplexed us the better part of the summer.

Things are all iced up right now and I have been busy tying flies and dreaming of the open water and the open season.

I got a new Nikon D40x for Christmas and have been actively learning all the ropes of working it...should produce some nice images.

I got a polorizing filter for the big lens and can not wait to shoot some steelhead on the gravel...

Thanks for Posting.

Here's to 2008...may it be Great!

AA
See you on the Water.

Brad Bohen

The Afton Angler
www.BradBohen.com
AftonAngler@BradBohen.com
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Jan 29, 2008January 29th, 2008, 1:32 pm EST
Too bad TroutNut is so far off


Got a spare bedroom you can crash in here in Alaska, Brad!

You're gonna love shooting with a DSLR with a polarizing filter. The Brule is perfect for it! I can't wait to see the pics you get out of that this year. :)
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
LenH
driftless area

Posts: 58
LenH on Jan 31, 2008January 31st, 2008, 1:53 am EST
polarizing filter.


I have one of those for my Sony w-7...

seems like a pain to use.

Is in camera bag never used.

Any tips on how to use it?

Len
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Jan 31, 2008January 31st, 2008, 7:32 am EST
Beautifully figured and colored browns. Looks like you are getting mostly males by the looks of those kypes. The one brown w/o any red spots appears to be a hen. Very nice fish and you are have extraordinary good luck for a younger guy who hasn't beed FF all that long. You must have had some great mentors and of course I can see you really love it too.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
West
West's profile picture
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Posts: 46
West on Feb 9, 2008February 9th, 2008, 3:36 pm EST
You know Brad, I think you could probably get me to work for you w/ the evening rise as my only pay. Give me a few hours on the Brule every day and you know I'm happy. :) can't wat to see the pics with your new camera....
West

http://pleasantly-obsessed.blogspot.com/
Wiflyfisher
Wiflyfisher's profile picture
Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Feb 13, 2008February 13th, 2008, 12:56 pm EST
Nice to see the Brule pics! It's hard to get focused with all the snow and severe cold weather we have had this winter. This is suppose to be in NW Wisconsin, not south of you. :(

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