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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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True Fly Family Ptychopteridae (Phantom Crane Flies)

See Tipulidae for details about craneflies. This family is not known to differ from them in any ways important to anglers except appearance.

This family has evolved a really unusual feature for an insect: its legs also serve the function of wings. The tibiae are greatly enlarged and help catch the wind. The legs usually have white tips, making them very easily identifiable in flight. There is a ghostly look to a dark, sparse insect flying around the stream, usually alone, with the fixed bright white points of its leg tips surrounding it like a halo.

Specimens of Phantom Crane Flies:

2 Larvae

Start a Discussion of Ptychopteridae

True Fly Family Ptychopteridae (Phantom Crane Flies)

Taxonomy
Common Name
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