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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.

AndresT
Vigo-Spain

Posts: 25
AndresT on Sep 9, 2011September 9th, 2011, 7:01 am EDT
Tyed on a #10 hook.



JOHNW
JOHNW's profile picture
Chambersburg, PA

Posts: 452
JOHNW on Sep 10, 2011September 10th, 2011, 4:33 am EDT
Beautiful ties Andres!
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn
Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197
Shawnny3 on Sep 10, 2011September 10th, 2011, 5:03 am EDT
Beautiful, as always. See you in November?

-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
AndresT
Vigo-Spain

Posts: 25
AndresT on Sep 10, 2011September 10th, 2011, 2:46 pm EDT
Thank you JOHNW, I am glad you like them.

Shawn, thank you. I am afraid I am not going this year to the show, as Jorge and I will be at the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Expo. I hope you have a good time at the show.

Andrés.
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Sep 10, 2011September 10th, 2011, 4:26 pm EDT
Outstanding flies!
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
AndresT
Vigo-Spain

Posts: 25
AndresT on Sep 12, 2011September 12th, 2011, 7:11 am EDT
Thank you Jason. Two more pics:



AndresT
Vigo-Spain

Posts: 25
AndresT on Sep 12, 2011September 12th, 2011, 7:24 am EDT
This pattern is very productive and easy to tie.
Materials:
Hook: Varivas #10 terrestrial
Thread: 8/0
Body: black foam tube
Legs: elastic thread (sylicone)
Elytra: Realistic Elytra
Bug Bond to protect foam and give a glow finish.
Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197
Shawnny3 on Sep 14, 2011September 14th, 2011, 3:54 pm EDT
Sorry to hear you won't be there, Andres. Perhaps next year.

Best,
Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
Sayfu
Posts: 560
Sayfu on Nov 25, 2011November 25th, 2011, 3:48 am EST

I'd never get my wife to remove the hook using one of those flies!

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