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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.

Looking across Island Lake toward the Titcomb Basin—one of the popular crown jewels of the Wind River Mountains From Island Lake in Wyoming

Stream photos

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Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly LarvaLimnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva
Dorsal view of a Limnephilidae (Giant Sedges) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This specimen resembled several others of around the same size and perhaps the same species, which were pretty common in my February sample from the upper Yakima. Unfortunately, I misplaced the specimen before I could get it under a microscope for a definitive ID.
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
    2. ›
  2. New York
    3. ›
  3. Cayuta Creek

  1. Trout Streams
    2. ›
  2. New York
    3. ›
  3. Cayuta Creek

Underwater photos from Cayuta Creek

A variety of cased caddisfly larvae, probably mostly Neophylax, have clustered along the backside of a rock in fast water. There seem to be some Helicopsychidae larvae clustered along the bottom, and a few other taxa are mixed in. It's interesting that several larvae have especially large stones placed over the front openings of their cases, perhaps to block the case off for pupation. It does seem to be the wrong time of year for Neophylax to be pupating, but that was the ID given for one of these which I collected and photographed up close. From Cayuta Creek in New York
A wide variety of caddis larvae and other insects have clustered together on the backside of this rock in fast water. From Cayuta Creek in New York

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Cayuta Creek in New York

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Cheumatopsyche (Little Sister Sedge) Caddisfly Pupa
Lateral view of a Cheumatopsyche (Hydropsychidae) (Little Sister Sedge) Caddisfly Pupa from Cayuta Creek in New York
This is the first fully formed caddis pupa (technically, a pharate adult) that I've collected and photographed alive and healthy. I'll put a video of this specimen online soon, too.
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Isoperla (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult
Lateral view of a Isoperla (Perlodidae) (Stripetails and Yellow Stones) Stonefly Adult from Cayuta Creek in New York
Several stoneflies of this species were flying around a small stream last night. I tied on a brown drake imitation of about the right size/color to approximate these stones, and was rewarded with a hard-fighting 17-inch brown trout.
5
Stenonema (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Stenonema (Heptageniidae) (March Browns and Cahills) Mayfly Nymph from Cayuta Creek in New York
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Brachycentrus (Grannom) Caddisfly Pupa
Dorsal view of a Brachycentrus (Brachycentridae) (Grannom) Caddisfly Pupa from Cayuta Creek in New York
The green blob contained in this case is a pupa in the early stages of transformation from larva to the final stage we generally picture and imitate. This specimen and several like it were fixed to a rock I picked up, and each one had the front of its case sealed off, protecting the helpless pupa from predation. It's neat to see the insect part-way through such a radical transformation. It was very hard to extract this thing from its case, so there's a bit of extra goo near the head from where I accidentally punctured it.
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Male Ephemerella (Hendricksons, Sulphurs, PMDs) Mayfly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Male Ephemerella (Ephemerellidae) (Hendricksons, Sulphurs, PMDs) Mayfly Nymph from Cayuta Creek in New York
The striking coloration of this Ephemerella nymph earned it a turn under the camera lens. It has a different look than others I've collected, but I still might tentatively guess it belongs to the widely variable (and ironically named) invaria species.
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Neophylax (Autumn Mottled Sedge) Caddisfly Larva
Case view of a Neophylax (Thremmatidae) (Autumn Mottled Sedge) Caddisfly Larva from Cayuta Creek in New York
See the forum comments for notes on the identification of this specimen.
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Rheotanytarsus Midge Larva
Here's what lived inside. Dorsal view of a Rheotanytarsus (Chironomidae) Midge Larva from Cayuta Creek in New York
This peculiar midge lived in a case tightly fixed to a rock, with several others of its kind. The case seems to be made of tiny grains of sand. I'm not sure what the function is for the little lines sticking out the front, because they aren't legs.
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Baetis (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph
Dorsal view of a Baetis (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from Cayuta Creek in New York
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Female Ephemera varia (Yellow Drake) Mayfly Spinner
Lateral view of a Female Ephemera varia (Ephemeridae) (Yellow Drake) Mayfly Spinner from Cayuta Creek in New York
I found this female spinner ovipositing in a small stream. She came along while I was playing a trout -- every good bug seemed to do that last night! I didn't have my bug net, so I caught the trout in my landing net, released the trout, and caught the mayfly in my landing net. Her wing got a bit messed up from that.
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