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.

I caught a nice brookie a few weeks earlier in this pool at the junction of a split channel in the stream. The huge fallen tree is great cover.

From the Mystery Creek # 23 in New York

Stream photos

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Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Skwala (Perlodidae) (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

This Skwala nymph still has a couple months left to go before hatching, but it's still a good representative of its species, which was extremely abundant in my sample for a stonefly of this size. It's obvious why the Yakima is known for its Skwala hatch.

6 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.

elk body hair vs. deer body hair

Mcjames
Cortland Manor, NY

Posts: 139

Mcjames on Apr 18, 2013April 18th, 2013, 11:01 am EDT

good news: I was gifted a pile of tying materials
bad news: nothing is labeled

any tips for identifying elk hair vs. deer hair?

many thanks

I am haunted by waters

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Apr 18, 2013April 18th, 2013, 11:13 am EDT

Hi Jim,

Generally, elk hair is more tannish gray with larger blonde sections. it tends to be coarser and less speckled looking. This is not a hard rule as some pieces can confuse things a little. The best way is to look for black tips...That's deer.

"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