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.

I caught a nice brookie a few weeks earlier in this pool at the junction of a split channel in the stream. The huge fallen tree is great cover.

From the Mystery Creek # 23 in New York

Stream photos

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Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

This specimen resembled several others of around the same size and perhaps the same species, which were pretty common in my February sample from the upper Yakima. Unfortunately, I misplaced the specimen before I could get it under a microscope for a definitive ID.

10 Recently Added Photos

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.

Site updates from July 31, 2004

Photos by Troutnut

This is the smooth tailout of a large, wide flat into a very steep riffle. Fish rise here almost every evening, but it's a difficult place to fool them, with clear water and tricky currents.

This beautiful habitat held some big risers that were too wary for me on one late July morning.

All along this fertile river, cedar sweepers like these shelter small brookies, browns, and rainbows.

A remote, lake-like stretch of a trout river provides refuge for large, reclusive browns.

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Bois Brule River and Miscellaneous Wisconsin in Wisconsin

Polydrusus (Weevil) Beetle Adult

3 Pictures

Artistic view of a Polydrusus (Curculionidae) (Weevil) Beetle Adult from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

This is an iridescent green terrestrial beetle. They're common in northern Wisconsin's forests during the middle of summer, and I found them on the water's surface more than any other terrestrial insect. I saw the trout take a few and caught some trout on an imitation.

Collected July 30, 2004 from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

Added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Collected July 30, 2004 from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin and added by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Female Stenacron (Light Cahill) Mayfly Dun

3 Pictures