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.

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.

How about a little discussion of this one?

Female Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun

8 Pictures

This specimen was collected on the same trip as a similar dun.

Collected May 27, 2005 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on May 24, 2006

Collected May 27, 2005 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on May 24, 2006

Oldredbarn

Novi, MI

Posts: 2600

Oldredbarn on Apr 6, 2010April 6th, 2010, 6:27 am EDT

Jason, Taxon, Gonzo et al...

This one seems to have slipped through the id gauntlet...Does anyone want to hazzard a guess on the species level? BWO is a bit broad...

Spence

"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood

Troutnut

Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758

Troutnut on Apr 6, 2010April 6th, 2010, 1:08 pm EDT

Going to genus level for the Baetidae can be really tricky, and species level is even harder. The scientific keys don't provide any way to identify the female duns. It may be that someone very familiar with the family can recognize it by sight, but if I were to try I would have to fall back on the standard angler's method of identifying Baetids: pull a name out of a hat. "Let's see here... it's (rummage rummage rummage)... it's Baetis vagans" (That's no longer a valid species, but it is the name that seems to get pulled out of the hat most often.)

Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

Martinlf