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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 Glossosoma (Glossosomatidae) (Little Brown Short-horned Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
I caught this tiny larva without a case, but it seems to key pretty clearly to to Glossosomatidae. From there, the lack of sclerites on the mesonotum points to either Glossosoma or Anagapetus. Although it's difficult to see in a 2D image from the microscope, it's pretty clear in the live 3D view that the pronotum is only excised about 1/3 of its length to accommodate the forecoxa, not 2/3, which points to Glossosoma at Couplet 5 of the Key to Genera of Glossosomatidae 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.
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.

Konchu
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Site Editor
Indiana

Posts: 498
Konchu on Mar 22, 2012March 22nd, 2012, 2:28 pm EDT
Looks like most of the stream insects in my area (So. Indiana) are about 3-4 weeks ahead of their usual timing this year. What are others seeing?
Softhackle
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Wellsville, NY

Posts: 540
Softhackle on Mar 22, 2012March 22nd, 2012, 3:25 pm EDT
Hmm. don't like the sound of that. A hot summer may be on the way!

Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty." Edward R. Hewitt

Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
Konchu
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Indiana

Posts: 498
Konchu on Mar 22, 2012March 22nd, 2012, 3:57 pm EDT
Probably warm & dry
Entoman
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Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Entoman on Mar 22, 2012March 22nd, 2012, 5:50 pm EDT
Out here we're experiencing a little colder Spring than usual, though that can change on a dime. Timing should be pretty normal (whatever that means). Our Winter was very dry, so high water won't be an issue. Hoping to fish hatches we rarely get a chance to see because of run-off.
"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
Wiflyfisher
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Wisconsin

Posts: 622
Wiflyfisher on Mar 22, 2012March 22nd, 2012, 6:20 pm EDT
We are a good 3-4 weeks early in Wisconsin, even a little ahead of 2010 right now.
Jmd123
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Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on Mar 23, 2012March 23rd, 2012, 8:18 am EDT
I haven't been on any streams other than the lower Au Sable lately, but I found a tick crawling on me the other day and northern leopard frogs are already calling! Also, found a blossom of round-leaved liverleaf (Hepatica americana) and coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is already blooming too...

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Roguerat
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Posts: 456
Roguerat on May 15, 2012May 15th, 2012, 2:23 pm EDT
Seems like we're a good 2-3 weeks ahead of average hatch times here in West MI. Weird weather, 80's in mid-March then mostly mild temps since- winter just segued into 'summer'. I hope things slow down, it'd be nice to have a normal season before water temps get too warm for trout...although that opens things up for Smallmouth.

The Roguerat

I Peter 5:7 'Cast your cares upon Him...'
Konchu
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Indiana

Posts: 498
Konchu on May 15, 2012May 15th, 2012, 4:32 pm EDT
Thanks for all the responses so far. It will be interesting to track this through the rest of this year, and then into next season, to see what effects, if any, occur. Many species here seem to be getting back on track after a spell of cool weather. Somehow, the ship often finds a way to rights itself.
Entoman
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Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Entoman on May 15, 2012May 15th, 2012, 5:00 pm EDT
Brookyman -

I worry that maybe > but can a premature hatch result in changing the genetic code, like the size of the offspring could they be smaller the next year ???

An unusual weather event (like unseasonable hot or cold spells, floods, drought) can effect populations, sometimes dramatically. I wouldn't worry about genetic changes, but the possibility of decimated populations is on the table I guess. As Konchu said, nature's boat has a way of righting itself so we'll see what happens.
"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
Martinlf
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Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on May 15, 2012May 15th, 2012, 7:25 pm EDT
As Konchu notes, bugs seem to be resetting some places here in the East. Hendricksons are still hatching on some streams, stringing that hatch out into its typical time frame. Sulphurs started early, and some other hatches, but with some cool weather we may see these hatches string out as well. It will be interesting to see when the Tricos start this year.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
Crepuscular
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Boiling Springs, PA

Posts: 920
Crepuscular on May 16, 2012May 16th, 2012, 3:02 am EDT
Well we are at least 3 weeks ahead here in PA. Things were a little scary the end of March and most of April as far as flows go, but now we've had a bunch of good soaking rains that have raised the levels and cooled things off a bit. It is interesting though that we had an extreme year as far as rain events go last year which gave the fish a break, but I'm not sure about the bugs, some of the freestoners had a lot of water in them which did not cause the usual reduction in available habitat But some had some scouring. I sampled one stream in April 2011 post flooding and the macro community was pretty mich obliterated. Granted it wasnt great to begin with. It will be interesting to see what happens there. Nonetheless this is an interesting year so far. Green Drakes have already started in some places.
Konchu
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Site Editor
Indiana

Posts: 498
Konchu on May 18, 2012May 18th, 2012, 5:36 am EDT
The Tricos were going yesterday, and had been for awhile, in east central Illinois. Ephemera simulans also was out in droves; the nymphal shucks were forming impressive flotsam drifts where I was. The tricos were close to going in southern MI on the day before.
Martinlf
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Palmyra PA

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Martinlf on May 18, 2012May 18th, 2012, 9:53 am EDT
Now that's something! I'll have to check around here, though it's hard to imagine they could be out this soon. I wonder if you had an even warmer and drier winter than we did here in PA.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
PaulRoberts
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Colorado

Posts: 1776
PaulRoberts on May 18, 2012May 18th, 2012, 3:27 pm EDT
Many of our wild flowers are very early. My wife claims 3 weeks by memory, but I have no records. This is supposed to be such a dry year that a buddy and I are going to keep tabs on snowfields and glaciers, expecting some to melt far enough back to expose ground that hasn't been exposed in .... thousands of years.
Konchu
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Site Editor
Indiana

Posts: 498
Konchu on May 18, 2012May 18th, 2012, 3:59 pm EDT
Some glaciers have very old insects trapped in the ice.
Sayfu
Posts: 560
Sayfu on Mar 2, 2013March 2nd, 2013, 4:08 am EST

My understanding from a very interesting article by an entomologist in Fly fisherman Mag a few years ago now is that aquatic bugs emerge as per the water temp ave. from the time the eggs were laid, and not a magical temp. that is reached as the water warms up. You can have a warm Winter, early emergence, and then a colder, wet Summer.
Entoman
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Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Entoman on Mar 2, 2013March 2nd, 2013, 2:06 pm EST
Absolutely right, Sayfu. That is largely the explanation for why hatches can come off in cooler temps and earlier some years and in others not show yet even though water temps and time of season are seemingly perfect on a given day. Pretty difficult to monitor and hence predict though, especially with other variables like sunlight, water chemistry, and food availability needing to be factored in. Timing with local flora seems to be the most reliable and certainly the easiest. Doesn't always work, but it's still generally useful. For example, when the almonds start to blossom here it's time to be on a tailwater for the Skwala Stones and the March Browns that soon follow, like right now!:)
"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
Jmd123
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Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on Mar 3, 2013March 3rd, 2013, 11:27 am EST
Boys, here's hoping the bugs are early THIS year! I'm burned out on winter, we haven't had any decent snow for skiing, the ice is about 2 feet thick (NO fun with a hand auger!) and I haven't caught much anyway, and I've had a nasty head cold for the past week. ENOUGH already!

Last year early brown stones and even some Hennies and Red Quills were coming off by the middle of April, and I even had a few hits on them (missed them all)...gonna have to set up the vise here in a few weeks...

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Strmanglr
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Posts: 156
Strmanglr on Mar 4, 2013March 4th, 2013, 7:34 am EST
Was out on my steel water last week and saw some stones out.

Was told March is supposed to be colder than normal and April and May warmer than normal.
Cutbow
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Post Falls, Idaho

Posts: 38
Cutbow on Mar 4, 2013March 4th, 2013, 8:21 am EST
Here in N. Idaho we are looking at the first normal year we've had in recent memory. (Yes, I realize the irony of that statement.) As I write this there is some fantastic pre spring runoff streamer/double nymph fishing going on that I can't partake of on the account of work. Grrrrrrr! Not sure what the post runoff is gonna look like but if current snow pack is any indication we should have about average hatch timing.
"Once you catch your first fish on a fly you won't care about any other kind of fishing!"

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