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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.

The Mystery Creek # 294 in Wyoming

Stream photos

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Sweltsa (Sallfly) Stonefly NymphSweltsa (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This species was fairly abundant in a February sample of the upper Yakima.
10 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.

  1. Trout Streams
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  2. Montana
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  3. The Madison River

  1. Trout Streams
    2. ›
  2. Montana
    3. ›
  3. The Madison River

Landscape & scenery photos from the Madison River

The Madison River in Montana
The Madison River in Montana
The Madison River in Montana
The Madison River in Montana
The Madison River in Montana
The Madison River in Montana
Typical scene along MT-287 driving down the Madison River valley... flat pastures backed by dramatic mountains and weather in all directions. From the Madison River in Montana
The Madison River in Montana
The famous Three Dollar Bridge access point to the Madison River. I can't remember the last time I went to an access site and found so many other anglers in spot after spot after spot, on and on up the bank of the river. Every time I spotted likely-looking water up ahead and got closer, there was somebody standing along the bank waiting for an evening rise. Finally after 10 minutes of walking or so, I found about a 50-yard stretch to myself with some nice pocket water. I caught a few small fish and missed a couple bigger ones. From the Madison River in Montana
The Madison River in Montana
Outlet of Earthquake Lake on the Madison. From the Madison River in Montana
The Madison River in Montana

On-stream insect photos from the Madison River

We arrived at the parking lot on the Madison to find clouds of caddisflies swarming around everything, including every tree and vehicle in the parking lot. From the Madison River in Montana
Looking back across the Madison at a cloud of caddisflies swarming over the bank about 50 yards away, backlit by the sun. From the Madison River in Montana

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Madison River in Montana

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Male Ephemerella dorothea infrequens (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Male Ephemerella dorothea infrequens (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the Madison River in Montana
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Female Sweltsa (Sallfly) Stonefly Adult
Lateral view of a Female Sweltsa (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from the Madison River in Montana
These stoneflies--abundant during midday--seemed at first to be flying around with plain yellow bodies, but on closer inspection turn out to have striking, fiery red abdomens.
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Female Pteronarcys californica (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Adult
Lateral view of a Female Pteronarcys californica (Pteronarcyidae) (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Adult from the Madison River in Montana
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Male Neoleptophlebia heteronea (Blue Quill) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Male Neoleptophlebia heteronea (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Spinner from the Madison River in Montana
I keyed this one out to species on the microscope because it was too small for the genitalia to show the distinguishing characteristics in the images here.
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Male Lepidostoma (Little Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Adult
Lateral view of a Male Lepidostoma (Lepidostomatidae) (Little Brown Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Madison River in Montana
On an evening filled with millions of caddisflies, this one stood out as the only one of its kind that found its way into my net. Dave Ruiter identified it from the photos as a Lepidostoma specimen in the pluviale species group.
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Male Ephemerella dorothea infrequens (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Male Ephemerella dorothea infrequens (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Dun from the Madison River in Montana
This dun was collected in proximity to this spinner.
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Male Rhithrogena undulata (Small Western Red Quill) Mayfly Spinner
Male Rhithrogena undulata (Heptageniidae) (Small Western Red Quill) Mayfly Spinner from the Madison River in Montana
This male was collected at the same time as this female and is likely the same species. It keys pretty clearly to Rhithrogena undulata using the key in Traver 1935, although the size is larger than expected for that species in that source.
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Hydropsyche (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult
Lateral view of a Hydropsyche (Hydropsychidae) (Spotted Sedge) Caddisfly Adult from the Madison River in Montana
I haven't keyed this specimen out, but I am instead placing it in Hydropsyche based on the striking visual similarity to this one, which I did key out.
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Female Sweltsa fidelis (Sallfly) Stonefly Adult
Lateral view of a Female Sweltsa fidelis (Chloroperlidae) (Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from the Madison River in Montana
In Baumann's Stoneflies of the Rocky Mountains, this specimen keys to Sweltsa fidelis, but the number of species in that key is fairly small and it might not be accurate.
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Male Leptoceridae Caddisfly Adult
Lateral view of a Male Leptoceridae Caddisfly Adult from the Madison River in Montana
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Female Ephemerella aurivillii Mayfly Dun
Lateral view of a Female Ephemerella aurivillii (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Dun from the Madison River in Montana
This female was collected in proximity to a male that looks like the same species.
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Female Ephemerella dorothea infrequens (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Ephemerella dorothea infrequens (Ephemerellidae) (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Spinner from the Madison River in Montana
I'm calling this one Ephemerella dorothea infrequens because it was collected along with two males that positively ID to that species.
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