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

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Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva

Dorsal view of a Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

This specimen resembled several others of around the same size and perhaps the same species, which were pretty common in my February sample from the upper Yakima. Unfortunately, I misplaced the specimen before I could get it under a microscope for a definitive ID.

10 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.

Hydrophobic Fumed Silica (Frog's Fanny)

Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197

Shawnny3 on Jun 27, 2013June 27th, 2013, 11:07 am EDT

Hey, guys. After dropping two Frog's Fanny bottles into the stream in the past few seasons, I decided to buy the generic stuff in bulk. I found it really cheap here. It was $6.50 for a quart, plus like $3 shipping - that's a lifetime supply for under $10. I'll put it in a container that fits better in my vest so I don't keep dropping it in the stream, and I'll be in business forever.

-Shawn

Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com

Oldredbarn

Novi, MI

Posts: 2600

Oldredbarn on Jun 27, 2013June 27th, 2013, 2:57 pm EDT

Which is which there Shawn? Don't know what the "generic stuff" is...

Good to hear from you though...How's the summer/fishing going?

Spence

"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood

Shawnny3
Moderator
Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197

Shawnny3 on Jun 27, 2013June 27th, 2013, 5:02 pm EDT

Which is which there Shawn? Don't know what the "generic stuff" is...

Sorry - it's hydrophobic fumed silica. On the page I linked, it's just called "fumed silica" (third from the top), but this distributor only sells the hydrophobic version, which is what you want, so you don't have to worry about getting the wrong stuff. I haven't used it on flies yet, but it feels exactly the same as the name brand stuff on my hands, and it does not rinse off with just water.

Incidentally, the chemistry of this stuff is quite interesting. They electrocute the substrate to achieve very high temps, and as the silica (essentially sand or glass) crystallizes it forms fibrous, branching filaments. It has an extremely high surface area-to-volume ratio and has lots of air interspersed throughout the branching crystal. Coat with some hydrophobic polymer, and you have something magical for fly fishing.

-Shawn

P.S. Fished for the first time since we met just last week. Fishing has been slow, very little hatching, but it's been good to get out on the stream. I hope you're well. Your boys made an admirable run at the Cup despite the "rebuilding" phase - closest anyone came to knocking off Chicago.

Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com

Jmd123

Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474

Jmd123 on Jun 27, 2013June 27th, 2013, 7:11 pm EDT

"Your boys made an admirable run at the Cup despite the "rebuilding" phase - closest anyone came to knocking off Chicago."

Yeah, we almost did, didn't we? Oh well, they deserve the Cup. And we can be proud we made them go 7 games...Thanks, Shawn. BTW, hope you get out more - I've been busy with field work and teaching myself, now I got Swimmer's Itch from snorkeling yesterday and I just can't face the inevitable hordes of mosquitoes...I'm going to the shooting range where the noise and smoke will hopefully keep the bugs at bay...

Jonathon

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