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.

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.

BulBob
Banned
Posts: 1
BulBob on Aug 12, 2008August 12th, 2008, 12:54 pm EDT
The basic laws of physics that held us (spin fishermen) (who can't move our arms) to retrieving in a straight line have been rewritten (er, trivially circumvented) with the invention of “Planing Floats with Lateral Motion Control”. The BulletBobber turns ANY ROD AND REEL into a highly sensitive remote control providing the on-demand choices of running a bait or lure to the left or right. (An action which previously required moving your rodtip and/or your ass.) Another law of physics (from Newton's blooper reel) the BulletBobber breaks is the law that says the distance of your retrieve is equal to the length of your cast (except in fly fishing) (and current) (and wind) (and a moving boat) (and when you hook a fish).

http://www.blah blah blah blah blah.com/spam.html

I know the majority of die-hard fly guys and gals will poo-poo this invention (no, we love spam) but it can help if you understand how it can reach down stream much further then any other method (except for all of them) and set up a drift on either side of a river or under trees (very much like "casting" can).

Some like fishing and some like catching. (Those who most enjoy the former tend to be better at the latter.)

(Edited by Troutnut.)

Freepow
menomonie, WI

Posts: 83
Freepow on Aug 13, 2008August 13th, 2008, 5:04 pm EDT
I much prefer the edited version of this post for its high comical value...the other version didn't hold much value at all. Thanks Troutnut.
"I fish...because I suspect that men are going along this way for the last time, and I for one don't want to waste the trip..."
Al514
Al514's profile picture
Central New York

Posts: 142
Al514 on Aug 14, 2008August 14th, 2008, 1:35 am EDT
Haha, thats great.
Mcjames
Cortland Manor, NY

Posts: 139
Mcjames on Aug 14, 2008August 14th, 2008, 4:03 am EDT
hilarious!
I am haunted by waters
HighFlyer
Minnesota

Posts: 24
HighFlyer on Aug 14, 2008August 14th, 2008, 6:49 am EDT
I was wondering how long it would take for that user to get banned... but the editing also was even better!

Nice work Troutnut!
"Calling Fly Fishing a hobby is like calling Brain Surgery a job."
~by Paul Schullery~

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."
~by Henry David Thoreau~

Quick Reply

Related Discussions

Topic
Replies
Last Reply
2
May 13, 2012
by Konchu
8
Oct 14, 2016
by PABrownie
Troutnut.com is copyright © 2004-2024 (email Jason). privacy policy