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.

I like this one. Glacial river, taiga, tundra, and the perpetual ice cover of a massive high ridge dozens of miles away in the Wrangell Mountains.

From the Copper River in Alaska

Stream photos

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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.

Armstrong & Nelson's Spring Creek

Wbranch has attached these 7 pictures to this report. The message is below.

My Dad with a colorful rainbow - We released all our fish and this was long before C&R handling techniques

Report at a Glance

General Region	SW Montana
Specific Location	Livingston
Dates Fished	All of June, July, and August 1968 - 1972
Time of Day	11:00 a.m. to dark
Fish Caught	Rainbows, browns, cutthroats
Conditions & Hatches	PMD's

Details and Discussion

Wbranch

York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635

Wbranch on Aug 5, 2020August 5th, 2020, 11:23 am EDT

This is a little anecdote that was recently published on another forum and I thought some of you might enjoy reading it and seeing the pictures.

http://www.paflyfish.com/

Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

Martinlf

Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047

Martinlf on Aug 6, 2020August 6th, 2020, 12:31 pm EDT

Great story, Matt. Well-written and very interesting.

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

--Fred Chappell

Falsifly

Hayward, WI.

Posts: 660

Falsifly on Aug 7, 2020August 7th, 2020, 12:48 am EDT

Wow Matt, life has been good. Not to detract from the fishing but as a "60's" muscle car enthusiast that must have been quite a change in life going from the GTO to the VW. Anyway great story.

Falsifly
When asked what I just caught that monster on I showed him. He put on his magnifiers and said, "I can't believe they can see that."

Partsman

bancroft michigan

Posts: 321

Partsman on Aug 7, 2020August 7th, 2020, 1:26 am EDT

Thank you Matt for sharing a important part of your life with us, and also for all the help you give to folks here! Those are some cool pictures!
Mike.

Adirman