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.

Stream photos

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Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult

Lateral view of a Female Sweltsa borealis (Chloroperlidae) (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from Harris Creek in Washington

I was not fishing, but happened to be at an unrelated social event on a hill above this tiny creek (which I never even saw) when this stonefly flew by me. I assume it came from there. Some key characteristics are tricky to follow, but process of elimination ultimately led me to Sweltsa borealis. It is reassuringly similar to this specimen posted by Bob Newell years ago. It is also so strikingly similar to this nymph from the same river system that I'm comfortable identifying that nymph from this adult. I was especially pleased with the closeup photo of four mites parasitizing 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.

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Stonefly, very dark but what else can I find out?

Isoperla (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult

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Lateral view of a Isoperla (Perlodidae) (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult from Salmon Creek in New York

A friend brought me this stonefly to photograph. He found it floating on the surface of a trout stream with its wings in a crippled position.

Collected May 4, 2006 from Salmon Creek in New York

Added by Troutnut on May 22, 2006

Collected May 4, 2006 from Salmon Creek in New York and added by Troutnut on May 22, 2006

IanB
Posts: 3

IanB on May 5, 2009May 5th, 2009, 6:25 am EDT

Ok all, I am finding this hobie increasingly interesting and exciting. I no longer will just be guessing on the river, but actually selecting flies that best represent the actual bugs I am finding.

Here is another one from yesterday's trip, there are many of these flying around as adult, some size 14, others down to size 18, I grabbed one of the larger ones (just pushing size 14) and got some better macro pictures.

Thanks for the help in identifying this 'small' stonefly (that is my identification at this point anyway). Taken May 4th 2009 in the North Shore of Mass.

I apologize, but although I have re-sized these pictures (way down in some cases) I can not get them to display here. Links are posted instead.

IB

https://stillmaninteriors.sslpowered.com/Images/DSCN2185.JPG

other angle

https://stillmaninteriors.sslpowered.com/Images/DSCN2182.JPG

And another angle

https://stillmaninteriors.sslpowered.com/Images/DSCN2185.JPG

GONZO
Site Editor
"Bear Swamp," PA

Posts: 1681

GONZO on May 5, 2009May 5th, 2009, 10:08 am EDT

IanB-

Your stonefly is a member of the Taeniopterygidae, aka "winter stoneflies" or "willowflies." The smaller stoneflies that you saw might belong to another family, the Nemouridae, aka "spring stoneflies" or "forestflies." The emergence of some members of these two families overlaps at this time of year. (They look much alike, but the nemourids are generally smaller, emerge later, and have shorter second tarsal segments.)

BTW, per your previous thread, the #14 mayfly nymphs in the cup with your damselfly nymph are probably Hendrickson nymphs (Ephemerella subvaria).