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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.

TNEAL
GRAYLING. MICHIGAN

Posts: 278
TNEAL on Apr 19, 2014April 19th, 2014, 9:33 am EDT
Troutnut graciously gave me permission to make this post as a one-time semi-commercial entry.

I recently purchased a large close-out lot of capes from a former hackle grower in Arkansas. If you are interested in natural black, brown, dyed dark dun, or barred ginger capes that will tie hundreds of dries in #10-20 range as well as some streamer/bugger hackle at a more than reasonable price, please contact me. This is a one-time deal; I don't know how long they will last.

Tight lines,

Tim
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Apr 19, 2014April 19th, 2014, 1:02 pm EDT
Are you at liberty to tell us who this grower normally sold to? Any big names like Whiting, collins, or Metz? Would you consider the dry fly hackles to be a #1, #2, or #3 grade? PM me a price for what you consider your best grade in barred ginger and brown.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Riograndemk
Albuquerque

Posts: 1
Riograndemk on Apr 22, 2014April 22nd, 2014, 1:52 pm EDT
Tim - What quality capes have you in barred ginger and in black?
Mark Kalin, Albuquerque, 505/883-1639
Troutnut
Troutnut's profile picture
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2758
Troutnut on Mar 4, 2015March 4th, 2015, 11:43 am EST
Mark, the original post by Tim was from almost a year ago. If you want to get his attention to ask about the hackle you might want to send him a private message through the forum, which will give him an email notification.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

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