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 spring creek in Wisconsin. A little brook trout stream tumbles over boulders

Stream photos

Featured on the forum

Re: Trico emergers
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Bwoklink (Martinlf replied)

Re: Trico Tips
In the Mayfly Genus Tricorythodes by Martinlf

Re: UV spectrum and trout
In General Discussion by Martinlf

Re: closing the gender gap in flyfishing
In General Discussion by Konchu (Smallflyguy replied)

Re: Fishing Kupa River, Slovenia
In Fishing Reports by Slocum (Fish1 replied)

Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph Setvena wahkeena (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph

Dorsal view of a Setvena wahkeena (Perlodidae) (Wahkeena Springfly) Stonefly Nymph from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington

As far as I can tell, this species has only previously been reported from one site in Oregon along the Columbia gorge. However, the key characteristics are fairly unmistakable in all except for one minor detail:
— 4 small yellow spots on frons visible in photos
— Narrow occipital spinule row curves forward (but doesn’t quite meet on stem of ecdysial suture, as it's supposed to in this species)
— Short spinules on anterior margin of front legs
— Short rposterior row of blunt spinules on abdominal tergae, rather than elongated spinules dorsally
I caught several of these mature nymphs in the fishless, tiny headwaters of a creek high in the Wenatchee Mountains.

7 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.

My personal record brown trout!

Mcflyangler

New Mexico, United States

Posts: 35

Mcflyangler on May 20, 2017May 20th, 2017, 4:48 am EDT

Fishing is my passion, and when I catch a brown trout this big, its an amazing day! I pulled out 2 other large browns out of this pond in the same day. This guy fought for a while, and was an absolute blast to catch! Definitely my personal record trout.

Mc Fly Angler
http://www.mcflyangler.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/mcflylures

Iasgair

Colorado

Posts: 148

Iasgair on May 20, 2017May 20th, 2017, 4:46 pm EDT

You should be very proud. And thank you for releasing it.

Wbranch

York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635

Wbranch on May 20, 2017May 20th, 2017, 10:47 pm EDT

Nice fish but for it's size it surely didn't fight very well. Two minutes and it was in the net.

Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

Mcflyangler

New Mexico, United States

Posts: 35

Mcflyangler on May 21, 2017May 21st, 2017, 1:13 pm EDT

It was much longer than 2 minutes Branch... I did some editing to keep the video short...

Mc Fly Angler
http://www.mcflyangler.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/mcflylures

Mcflyangler

New Mexico, United States

Posts: 35

Mcflyangler on May 21, 2017May 21st, 2017, 1:14 pm EDT

I release all my good fish and most fish in general. I think once or twice a year I will keep a trout, but its usually in a stocked pond that is stocked just for people to keep them. I wouldn't never dream of taking a fish that sized out of such a small fishery. LOL

Mc Fly Angler
http://www.mcflyangler.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/mcflylures