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.

Stream photos

Featured on the forum

Re: Trico emergers
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Bwoklink (Martinlf replied)

Re: Trico Tips
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Martinlf

Re: UV spectrum and trout
In General Discussion by Martinlf

Re: closing the gender gap in flyfishing
In General Discussion by Konchu (Smallflyguy replied)

Re: Fishing Kupa River, Slovenia
In Fishing Reports by Slocum (Fish1 replied)

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.

Spring is FINALLY here!

Jmd123 has attached these 6 pictures. The message is below.

OMG, there's something BLOOMING! (Coltsfoot, Tussilago farfara)

This looks more like an alien than a wildflower! (Skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus fetidus)

There were at least a dozen bass cruising this shoreline looking for something to eat...

Hey look, it's a real live Woolly Bugger! So THAT'S what they imitate!

The Au Sable is up! There will be some steelhead stuck in this little creek soon...

Jmd123

Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474

Jmd123 on Apr 16, 2013April 16th, 2013, 5:29 pm EDT

This may not be as spectacular as Spence's trip to visit the PA Chapter of Troutnut...but hey, I can WALK to this fishing spot from my home! It's been a loooooong c-c-c-ccoooooooold winter here in northern MI and spring has been a long time coming. Well, better late than never! I would have been happy with one fish today, but instead I caught SEVEN nice largemouth out of my favorite pond in Clark's Marsh. The biggest, in the photo, was 15.5", the others 12-14". Not really big bass but loads of fun on a 3-weight! No sunfish today, didn't see a single one out there. But there were a few early wildflowers coming up, and I saw the first butterfly (mourning cloak) and snake (common garter) of the year today too. And last night the frogs started calling behind my house!

I would love to have gone trout fishing today. However, there are flood warnings along the Rifle River and all of my other favorite spots are still closed until a week from this Saturday. Besides, pond fishing for sunfish and bass takes me back to my childhood and I always like to start my fly fishing season this way. And to think, two days ago there was SNOW in the woods and it looked like December...

Jonathon

No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...

PaulRoberts