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.

A small, old rock wing dam has created an excellent riffle and pool in this classic trout stream.

Stream photos

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Onocosmoecus (Great Late-Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Larva Onocosmoecus (Great Late-Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Larva

Lateral view of a Onocosmoecus (Limnephilidae) (Great Late-Summer Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington

This specimen keys pretty easily to Onocosmoecus, and it closely resembles a specimen from Alaska which caddis expert Dave Ruiter recognized as this genus. As with that specimen, the only species in the genus documented in this area is Onocosmoecus unicolor, but Dave suggested for that specimen that there might be multiple not-yet-distinguished species under the unicolor umbrella and it would be best to stick with the genus-level ID. I'm doing the same for this one.

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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.

Hetaerina americana naiad

Millcreek has attached these 9 pictures. The message is below.

In alcohol. 30 mm. April 13, 2014. Photo taken same day as collected so color is pretty close to the live naiad.

In alcohol. 30 mm. April 13, 2014. Head of specimen above.

In alcohol. 30 mm. April 13, 2014. Mentum of H. americana.

Live specimen. Closeup of head. April 9, 2014.

Live specimen. 30 mm. November 12, 2014.

Live specimen. 20 mm. November 12, 2014.

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Nov 14, 2014November 14th, 2014, 10:39 am EST

I identified this damselfly naiad to genus using Merritt, Cummins and Berg (2008). As far as I can tell only one species, H. americana is known to occur in California out of the four, possibly five species that are recorded for the United States. The naiads are most commonly found in areas of calm water on floating vegetation.
A common naiad to find in the Russian River. I've included several pictures since they vary quite a bit in coloration.

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

Martinlf

Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047

Martinlf on Nov 15, 2014November 15th, 2014, 12:53 pm EST

Gorgeous photos. Your contributions here are making me realize how many different food forms that trout may have available to them, as well as alerting me to many unfamiliar critters. It helps keep my fishing imagination alive over the winter. Thanks.

"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

Millcreek
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 344

Millcreek on Nov 17, 2014November 17th, 2014, 9:00 am EST

Louis - Yeah, no wonder the trout can be so picky, they've got a smorgasbord at their fin-tips. Always amazing how many different types of protein packages are in the river for them.
Mark

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