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.

We were lucky to be able to fish through this storm as it skirted around us to the north, giving us just enough clouds to prompt a BWO hatch but keeping the lighting at a safe distance.

From Slough Creek in Wyoming

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.

11 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.

Site updates from August 17, 2018

Photos by Troutnut from the Madison River, Rock Creek, and the Jefferson River in Montana

The famous Madison River

From the Madison River in Montana

This little brown saved me from officially skunking on my first trip to the Madison, which saw several larger fish swipe at streamers or big dry flies but no hookups in the midday sun.

This cow moose watched me from a slough upstream while I fished a good pool on Rock Creek.

From Rock Creek in Montana

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Rock Creek in Montana

Male Cinygmula (Dark Red Quill) Mayfly Spinner

7 Pictures

Lateral view of a Male Cinygmula (Heptageniidae) (Dark Red Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Rock Creek in Montana

This male was collected from the same cloud of spinners as this female and is probably the same species. I'm tentatively calling them both Cinygmula for now, but I'm really not sure about that ID yet.

Collected August 16, 2018 from Rock Creek in Montana

Added by Troutnut on June 12, 2019

Collected August 16, 2018 from Rock Creek in Montana and added by Troutnut on June 12, 2019

Female Cinygmula (Dark Red Quill) Mayfly Spinner

7 Pictures