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)

Amphizoa Beetle Larva Amphizoa Beetle Larva

Dorsal view of a Amphizoa (Amphizoidae) Beetle Larva from Sears Creek in Washington

This is the first of it's family I've seen, collected from a tiny, fishless stream in the Cascades. The three species of this genus all live in the Northwest and are predators that primarily eat stonefly nymphs Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019).

5 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.

A good rod for small stream fishing (Tenkara?)

Music321
Posts: 1

Music321 on Jun 3, 2013June 3rd, 2013, 7:12 pm EDT

I'm new to fly fishing, and can cast a fly rod. I have 30 years experience spin fishing, however. I'm wondering what type of outfit to get. As it happens, I have an expensive 4wt 9ft orvis graphite rod, but no other equipment.

I think that this rod might be less than ideal, while being "too much" rod for me.

I can't imagine that I'll be casting much, as I'll be fishing (where I live) streams surrounded by hardwoods, though there are streams in softwood forests up north.

I don't want to go shorter, because then I would have to do much more casting. I'm interested in the Tenkara rods. They're simple and easy to use. The ONLY downsides I can see is that:

1. If I happen to be in the rare situation where I need to make a cast over 22 ft, I'm out of luck.

2. The rod, though it collapses to 22in, is 12 ft long!

Any ideas? thanks.