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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.

Troutnut
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Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Aug 16, 2006August 16th, 2006, 6:58 am EDT
After more than 20 months programming this thing, 10 of them full-time, it's finally going live!

What do you all think?
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Wiflyfisher
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Wisconsin

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Wiflyfisher on Aug 17, 2006August 17th, 2006, 8:15 am EDT
Congrats! Looks terrific!

John
Hdw
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Hdw on Aug 18, 2006August 18th, 2006, 9:06 am EDT
Congrats on the new site... excellent
Paul
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Paul on Aug 18, 2006August 18th, 2006, 10:17 am EDT
Jason, you're CRAZY...LaFontaine type of crazy! GREAT WEBSITE...GREAT PICS! Congrats!
West
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Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Posts: 46
West on Aug 18, 2006August 18th, 2006, 3:37 pm EDT
Totally awesome! Well worth the wait!
West

http://pleasantly-obsessed.blogspot.com/
PJB
Woodstock, Georgia

Posts: 1
PJB on Aug 20, 2006August 20th, 2006, 2:23 am EDT
The site looks great.
Dneuswanger
Site Editor
Hayward, Wisconsin

Posts: 7
Dneuswanger on Aug 20, 2006August 20th, 2006, 4:40 am EDT
I may be a tad biased, being the Troutnut's Dad and all, but I think the new site LOOKS fantastic and FUNCTIONS incredibly well. Great job, son. You actually SCARE me with what you can do. Must have gotten the good genes from your Mother's side...
Dave Neuswanger
a.k.a. the Troutnut's Dad
Retired Fisheries Supervisor, Wisconsin DNR
Wading4fun
Dallas TX

Posts: 1
Wading4fun on Sep 22, 2006September 22nd, 2006, 4:22 pm EDT
Ijust stumbled on to your website today. I have already placed one of your backgrounds on my desktop at the office. Love the website. All the pics and articles. Think you are little buggy, but that is cool. You are a troutnut like the rest of us.
Ntom
Posts: 2
Ntom on Sep 23, 2006September 23rd, 2006, 4:27 am EDT
Very cool Jason it was worth the wait. Excellent pictures.
ntom

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