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.

Here Oksrukuyik Creek flows away from the Dalton Highway toward the pipeline. It eventually grows into one of the major rivers of the North Slope, and the main drainage to the west of the Sag, but where it crosses the road it's just a small grayling stream.

From Oksrukuyik Creek in Alaska

Stream photos

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Clostoeca disjuncta (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva Clostoeca disjuncta (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva

Lateral view of a Clostoeca disjuncta (Limnephilidae) (Northern Caddisfly) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

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.

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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.

Nixe species (kennedyi?)

Millcreek has attached these 7 pictures to aid in identification. The message is below.

Color variation #1. 10 mm (excluding cerci). Live specimen. Collected May 29, 2014.

Color variation #1. 7 mm (excluding cerci). Live specimen. Collected May 13, 2014.

Color variation #1. 6 mm (excluding cerci). In alcohol. Collected May 5, 2012.

Color variation #2. 9 mm (excluding cerci). Live specimen. Collected May 17, 2014.

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Sep 25, 2014September 25th, 2014, 3:07 pm EDT

These nymphs are abundant in the Russian River from April to June. I've keyed them out to Nixe using Merritt, Cummins and Berg but have been unable to ID them to species. The only Nixe species I've been able to find recorded from California is N. kennedyi but the nymphs are not described and I haven't collected any adults in the area. Does anybody know anything more about the nymphs?

The nymphs seem to have two distinct pattern types. Not sure if that's just a color variation or whether they could be two different species. Photos show the two variations.

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein

Creno
Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 302

Creno on Sep 25, 2014September 25th, 2014, 3:28 pm EDT

Millcreek - are you collecting both forms at the same time/place? creno

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Sep 25, 2014September 25th, 2014, 3:33 pm EDT

Dave - Yes, although variation #2 tends to show up about a week later. I've often collected both forms off the same rock.

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Sep 26, 2014September 26th, 2014, 8:14 pm EDT

I can't make out the mouthparts but the head spots and small lateral spines clearly agree with your assessment. Perhaps the difference between the two is due to dimorphism.

"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Sep 27, 2014September 27th, 2014, 7:46 am EDT

Perhaps the difference between the two is due to dimorphism.

It could be. Either two variations in the same species or differences between male and female. Probably more likely than two species. Separating the two variations and rearing the mature nymphs should provide answers. Hope to be set up next year for rearing nymphs.

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"
-Albert Einstein