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.

Here Oksrukuyik Creek flows away from the Dalton Highway toward the pipeline. It eventually grows into one of the major rivers of the North Slope, and the main drainage to the west of the Sag, but where it crosses the road it's just a small grayling stream.

From Oksrukuyik Creek in Alaska

Stream photos

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Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington

As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.

7 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 March 26, 2012

Closeup insects by Bnewell from the Touchet River in Washington

Female Zapada columbiana (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Adult

2 Pictures

Female Zapada columbiana (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Adult from the N. Fk Touchet River in Washington

Collected March 25, 2012 from the N. Fk Touchet River in Washington

Added by Bnewell on March 26, 2012

Collected March 25, 2012 from the N. Fk Touchet River in Washington and added by Bnewell on March 26, 2012

Comments / replies

Troutnut

Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758

Troutnut on Mar 26, 2012March 26th, 2012, 5:39 pm EDT

Wow, beautiful stonefly Bob! I've never seen one like that.

Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Mar 27, 2012March 27th, 2012, 1:11 am EDT

Ditto!

"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