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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.

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.
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.

This topic is about the Caddisfly Family Hydroptilidae

Both anglers and entomologists know these diminutive flies as "Microcaddisflies." The term refers to this family specifically, not to all tiny caddisflies. Many are large enough for imitation on small hooks, but some are impossibly small, as tiny as hook size 36.

Like the Tricorythodes mayflies, Microcaddisflies can be important to trout because of their extreme abundance in certian waters.

Example specimens

Motrout
Motrout's profile picture
Posts: 319
Motrout on Jun 11, 2014June 11th, 2014, 5:41 pm EDT
Goodness.

At least everything ended with you in a better fly fishing locale than Missouri......

I'm still here but I manage to catch a trout every once in awhile anyway:)
"I don't know what fly fishing teaches us, but I think it's something we need to know."-John Gierach
http://fishingintheozarks.blogspot.com/
Pdcox
Kansas city

Posts: 12
Pdcox on Dec 10, 2019December 10th, 2019, 11:54 pm EST
GLad I stumbled on this thread. Was fishing the Niangua and experienced what i thought was a hatch of smuts. However after finding this conversation, it makes a lot of sense that i found black caddis. Now that is a first for me. I persuaded a trout to hand over a few , and here they are.

https://pauldavid.smugmug.com/Bugs/i-TNGtZcM
https://pauldavid.smugmug.com/Bugs/i-ggdDd2n

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