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.

Stream photos

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Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult Female Sweltsa borealis (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult

Lateral view of a Female Sweltsa borealis (Chloroperlidae) (Boreal Sallfly) Stonefly Adult from Harris Creek in Washington

I was not fishing, but happened to be at an unrelated social event on a hill above this tiny creek (which I never even saw) when this stonefly flew by me. I assume it came from there. Some key characteristics are tricky to follow, but process of elimination ultimately led me to Sweltsa borealis. It is reassuringly similar to this specimen posted by Bob Newell years ago. It is also so strikingly similar to this nymph from the same river system that I'm comfortable identifying that nymph from this adult. I was especially pleased with the closeup photo of four mites parasitizing this one.

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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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Trailing Shuck

Baetis (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph

13 Pictures

Dorsal view of a Baetis (Baetidae) (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph from Mongaup Creek in New York

Collected May 5, 2007 from Mongaup Creek in New York

Added by Troutnut on May 18, 2007

Collected May 5, 2007 from Mongaup Creek in New York and added by Troutnut on May 18, 2007

Baetis7
MI

Posts: 17

Baetis7 on Aug 20, 2014August 20th, 2014, 9:08 am EDT

I have noticed a good amount of baetis nymph shucks tied with an orange antron or similar material. What do you folks think about the right color for a shuck?

Entoman

Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604

Entoman on Aug 20, 2014August 20th, 2014, 10:49 am EDT

Yeah, LaFontaine liked to use orange wings on his emergers - his "Theory of Attraction" working there as opposed to imitation. The mysterious success of the color orange when incorporated in flies used during hatches of olive mayflies goes back many years. It was reported by English authors at least as far back as 80 years ago, perhaps more. In my experience, sometimes it seems to help - but usually not.

"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman