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 trackless paradise two days deep in the Yellowstone backcountry

From Mystery Creek # 218 in Wyoming

Stream photos

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Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Skwala (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Skwala (Perlodidae) (Large Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington

This Skwala nymph still has a couple months left to go before hatching, but it's still a good representative of its species, which was extremely abundant in my sample for a stonefly of this size. It's obvious why the Yakima is known for its Skwala hatch.

6 Recently Added Photos

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.

Cooke Pond smallies on Brown Drakes

Jmd123 has attached these 6 pictures. The message is below.

Notice there are TWO flies in this fish's mouth!! One just wasn't enough for this guy...

First one I was able to get in the boat after one popped off and two broke my line!

Looking "upstream" - the pond actually has appreciable current here

Gotta throw in some wildflowers...daisy fleabane growing near the launch

Jmd123

Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474

Jmd123 on Jun 9, 2016June 9th, 2016, 7:16 pm EDT

Well, since blowing out my waders and boots I have decided to make a series of kayak assaults on my favorite stillwaters. Yesterday was {REDACTED] Pond, where the perch were hitting a #10 KBF and the brookies went nuts over the #10 cricket again. Tonight I went to Cooke Pond and waited until dark, then got to fish a full-on Brown Drake hatch as it was getting dark. I wish these insects hatched on my favorite trout waters, but hey, smallmouth like them just as well and responded enthusiastically to my extended-body patterns. Funny thing happened too, I broke off two fish because of a bad leader, which I promptly replaced with a fresh one, and my last fish of the night, a nice fat 17-incher, had two flies in his mouth! He was one of the two that broke me off and STILL couldn't resist my flies! And, he gave it back to me, generous fellow...my wrist started getting sore hanging on these bulldogs, had a few jump on me too which is always fun.

I will be going back there soon!

Jonathon

No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...

Wbranch

York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635

Wbranch on Jun 10, 2016June 10th, 2016, 3:01 am EDT

Jonathon,

Love those smallmouth! Wow, if I had a choice between yellow perch and feisty smallmouth it would be the bass every time. Go to the perch pond when you want a meal and the bass pond when you want lots of strong action.

Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

Adirman

Monticello, NY

Posts: 479

Adirman on Jun 11, 2016June 11th, 2016, 7:41 am EDT

Thers nothing like the pull of a smallie at the end of your line, pound for pound, best fighting freshwater fish. I love fishing for smallies when its too hot for Trout, usually go to the Delaware for my action. I find Smallmouth much easier to catch than Trout but VERY aggressive and hard fighting, lots of fun for sure!!

Congrats :)