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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.

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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Little Yellow Quills

This common name refers to only one species. Click its scientific name to learn more.

Mayfly Species Leucrocuta hebe

These are often called Little Yellow Quills.
This widespread species produces more fishable hatches in the East and Midwest than any other species in the Heptagenia genus complex.
Female Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Dun from the Beaverkill River in New York
I found Catskill brown trout eagerly surface feeding to this species.
Lateral view of a Female Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Spinner from Mystery Creek #43 in New York
I found this spinner on the same piece of stream as a similar dun, probably of the same species.
Dorsal view of a Leucrocuta hebe (Heptageniidae) (Little Yellow Quill) Mayfly Nymph from the Bois Brule River in Wisconsin

Little Yellow Quills

Scientific Name
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