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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.

Dorsal view of a Zapada cinctipes (Nemouridae) (Tiny Winter Black) Stonefly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Nymphs of this species were fairly common in late-winter kick net samples from the upper Yakima River. Although I could not find a key to species of Zapada nymphs, a revision of the Nemouridae family by Baumann (1975) includes the following helpful sentence: "2 cervical gills on each side of midline, 1 arising inside and 1 outside of lateral cervical sclerites, usually single and elongate, sometimes constricted but with 3 or 4 branches arising beyond gill base in Zapada cinctipes." This specimen clearly has the branches and is within the range of that species.
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.
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Landscape & scenery photos from Spring Creek

Spring Creek in Wisconsin
Spring Creek in Wisconsin
This huge pile of stones was deposited alongside a very small brook trout stream in a huge flood about 9 months before this photo was taken.

From Spring Creek in Wisconsin
Spring Creek in Wisconsin
Spring Creek in Wisconsin
Spring Creek in Wisconsin
Spring Creek in Wisconsin
Spring Creek in Wisconsin
Spring Creek in Wisconsin

Underwater photos from Spring Creek

Above and below a small brook trout stream.

From Spring Creek in Wisconsin
These are glossosomatids, Jason.  They are probably Glossosoma nigrior, though it is possible that we are looking at mixed species.  The ones to the right with their aggregate of similar sized grains are classic Glossosoma, while the ones to the left with the large anchor pebbles could possibly be Agapetus.  Regardless, they're all commonly referred to as saddle case makers.

From Spring Creek in Wisconsin
The large caddisfly case (really less than 1/2 inch) is a Brachycentridae larva.  The other cases are actually the protective sheaths of black fly (Simuliidae) pupae.  The two antler-like pieces sticking out of each one are not legs, but antennal sheaths.

From Spring Creek in Wisconsin
Spring Creek in Wisconsin
Spring Creek in Wisconsin

Closeup insects by Troutnut from Spring Creek in Wisconsin

Lateral view of a Dibusa angata (Hydroptilidae) (Microcaddis) Caddisfly Adult from Spring Creek in Wisconsin
I'm tentatively classifying this one as Dibusa angata because I cannot see any ocelli in my dorsal view of the head (and because it has a single spur on each front tibia). However, sometimes they can be difficult to spot when obscured behind setae in general, so I'm not 100 % sure on this one. If there are ocelli I missed, then based on ranges and colors the genus ought to be Stactobiella.

References

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