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.
This one was surprisingly straightforward to identify. The lack of a sclerite at the base of the lateral hump narrows the field quite a bit, and the other options followed fairly obvious characteristics to Clostoeca, which only has one species, Clostoeca disjuncta.
Donmcalpine on Jul 10, 2013July 10th, 2013, 9:20 pm EDT
I will be in Bayfield July 24 - 30 related to wedding / family reunion. Would love to pack the gear for fly fishing if I thought any chance of some. I live in SE Minnesota so familiar with small, cold, spring filled creeks. Would love to learn enough in the next couple of weeks to help me decide whether to take the gear along.
Troutnut on Jul 12, 2013July 12th, 2013, 10:40 pm EDT
Very close to Bayfield you might try the Little Sioux. I caught my first trout there, about a 4-incher when I was probably about 15. I don't remember anything else about it, but I think it has some resident fish. Most of the other creeks in the area should have something, usually small rainbows / baby steelhead. Toward central Bayfield County there are tons of streams to try for browns & brookies. If you like poking around in small creeks and catching small fish in pretty settings, that's a nice area.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist