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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.

Case view of a Pycnopsyche guttifera (Limnephilidae) (Great Autumn Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
It's only barely visible in one of my pictures, but I confirmed under the microscope that this one has a prosternal horn and the antennae are mid-way between the eyes and front of the head capsule.

I'm calling this one Pycnopsyche, but it's a bit perplexing. It seems to key definitively to at least Couplet 8 of the Key to Genera of Limnephilidae Larvae. That narrows it down to three genera, and the case seems wrong for the other two. The case looks right for Pycnopsyche, and it fits one of the key characteristics: "Abdominal sternum II without chloride epithelium and abdominal segment IX with only single seta on each side of dorsal sclerite." However, the characteristic "metanotal sa1 sclerites not fused, although often contiguous" does not seem to fit well. Those sclerites sure look fused to me, although I can make out a thin groove in the touching halves in the anterior half under the microscope. Perhaps this is a regional variation.

The only species of Pycnopsyche documented in Washington state is Pycnopsyche guttifera, and the colors and markings around the head of this specimen seem to match very well a specimen of that species from Massachusetts on Bugguide. So I am placing it in that species for now.

Whatever species this is, I photographed another specimen of seemingly the same species from the same spot a couple months later.
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.

Shawnny3 has attached these 2 pictures. The message is below.
Shawnny3
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Pleasant Gap, PA

Posts: 1197
Shawnny3 on Jun 19, 2007June 19th, 2007, 2:31 am EDT
Here's my son's first fish, on his first cast, caught and landed completely on his own. The smile tells it all. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on taking him fishing.

-Shawn
Jewelry-Quality Artistic Salmon Flies, by Shawn Davis
www.davisflydesigns.com
Troutnut
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Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Jun 19, 2007June 19th, 2007, 2:50 am EDT
Congratulations!!! It's great you had everyone there to see it, too.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Martinlf
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Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Jun 19, 2007June 19th, 2007, 4:19 am EDT
Great pics, Shawn. I'm glad the little fellow had some luck. Sounds like you've found the right place and technique.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
JAD
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Alexandria Pa

Posts: 362
JAD on Jun 19, 2007June 19th, 2007, 4:25 am EDT


Looks like your son had a great time But I wonder what the little guy is thinking????

Another john

They fasten red (crimson red) wool around a hook, and fix onto the wool two feathers which grow under a cock’s wattles, and which in colour are like wax.
Radcliffe's Fishing from the Earliest Times,
Troutnut
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Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Jun 19, 2007June 19th, 2007, 4:31 am EDT
Looks like your son had a great time But I wonder what the little guy is thinking????


"Get me off this hook!"
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
JAD
JAD's profile picture
Alexandria Pa

Posts: 362
JAD on Jun 19, 2007June 19th, 2007, 5:12 am EDT


Jason I meant the one Shawn is holding.

JD

They fasten red (crimson red) wool around a hook, and fix onto the wool two feathers which grow under a cock’s wattles, and which in colour are like wax.
Radcliffe's Fishing from the Earliest Times,
Troutnut
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Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Jun 19, 2007June 19th, 2007, 5:38 am EDT
I know, I was kidding.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
JOHNW
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Chambersburg, PA

Posts: 452
JOHNW on Jun 19, 2007June 19th, 2007, 1:56 pm EDT



Not "one upping" here but you know how proud fathers are.
The oldfart in the picture is my Dad. Somehow a great fathers day gift both for and from each other.

The real bonus is I never knew the farm pond we were fishing had bass of that size in it. Time to dust off the warm water flies.
JW
"old habits are hard to kill once you have gray in your beard" -Old Red Barn
Martinlf
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Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Jun 19, 2007June 19th, 2007, 2:21 pm EDT
Great pics all. Thanks for posting them up.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

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