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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.

I caught several wild and colorful 8-9 inch brook trout in the clear little pool below this waterfall. From Mystery Creek # 89 in New York

Stream photos

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Holocentropus Caddisfly LarvaHolocentropus Caddisfly Larva
Dorsal view of a Holocentropus (Polycentropodidae) Caddisfly Larva from the Yakima River in Washington
This one seems to tentatively key to Holocentropus, although I can't make out the anal spines in Couplet 7 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae nor the dark bands in Couplet 4 of the Key to Genera of Polycentropodidae Larvae, making me wonder if I went wrong somewhere in keying it out. I don't see where that could have happened, though. It might also be that it's a very immature larva and doesn't possess all the identifying characteristics in the key yet. If Holocentropus is correct, then Holocentropus flavus and Holocentropus interruptus are the two likely possibilities based on range, but I was not able to find a description of their larvae.
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.

Freshwater Invertebrate Underwater Pictures

Freshwater Invertebrate Underwater Pictures

Underwater photos of freshwater invertebrates in their natural habitat.

Hundreds of cased caddisfly larvae live on this log in a small brook trout stream. From Eighteenmile Creek in Wisconsin
Several Baetidae nymphs line up on a rock. From Mongaup Creek in New York
A Brachycentrus "Apple Caddis" pupa scoots around in the surface film. Apparently it had some difficulty emerging, so I was able to slip my camera underneath it and take a picture from below. From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York
This is a close-up underwater view of a stillborn Ephemerella subvaria (Henrickson) female dun. From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York
This picture from below shows a stillborn Ephemerella subvaria (Hendrickson) dun drifting on the surface amidst a number of shed pupal skins from Brachycentrus caddisflies which were heavily hatching that day. From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York
This Brachycentrus "Apple Caddis" struggled more than its kin in escaping its pupal skin, enabling me to take an underwater picture of it from directly below. This is sort of a trout's eye view, but I used the flash for the picture so the transparent shuck appears far brighter than it really is. From the East Branch of the Delaware River in New York
The West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
A crayfish chews on a Hexagenia limbata nymph shortly after a small Hex emergence. I didn't catch any fish, but playing around with my flashlight and camera in the rocks proved productive.
This is my favorite underwater picture so far. It shows a bunch of Simuliidae (black fly) larvae clinging to a rock and swinging in the fast current. There are also at least four visible mayfly nymphs, probably in the family Baetidae. From Eighteenmile Creek in Wisconsin
The West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
Hundreds of cased caddis larvae cling to sparse weed growth in the sand under heavy current. From Eighteenmile Creek in Wisconsin
Cased caddis larvae blanket this section of stream bottom. From Eighteenmile Creek in Wisconsin
The West Branch of the Delaware River in New York
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
There are several mayfly and stonefly nymphs clinging to this log. From Eighteenmile Creek in Wisconsin
Eighteenmile Creek in Wisconsin
Mongaup Creek in New York
Mongaup Creek in New York
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