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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.

Dorsal view of a Holocentropus (Polycentropodidae) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This one seems to tentatively key to Holocentropus, although I can't make out the anal spines in Couplet 7 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae nor the dark bands in Couplet 4 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, making me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in keying it out. I don't see where that could have happened, though. It might also be that it's a very immature larva and doesn't possess all the identifying characteristics in the key yet. If Holocentropus is correct, then Holocentropus flavus and Holocentropus interruptus are the two likely possibilities based on range, but I was not able to find a description of their larvae.
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.
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Dorsal view of a Acroneuria carolinensis (Perlidae) (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph from unknown in Wisconsin
Entoman
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Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Entoman on Mar 11, 2012March 11th, 2012, 4:14 am EDT
The head markings better match up with A. carolinensis (pronounced unbroken W, thick tapering occipital band). Another clue is the femora maculation. A. abnormis usually has either dark brown legs without obvious maculation or longitudinal dark stripes as opposed to the pale bands or blotches evidenced on this specimen. While a dark dorsal habitus is usually associated with abnormis, it is not a very dependable character. The other common species (lycorias) has head and leg markings that can look quite similar, but it has anal gills and usually a pale center with dark margins on the terga.

A. carolinensis
http://bugguide.net/node/view/515177

A. abnormis
http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/446
"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman

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