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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 Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
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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Oldredbarn has attached these 3 pictures. The message is below.
Covid Anglers 2020
Oldredbarn
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Novi, MI

Posts: 2600
Oldredbarn on Jun 14, 2020June 14th, 2020, 6:21 am EDT
Definitely an odd year, but here's a little luck.

Spence
"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Jmd123
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Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2474
Jmd123 on Jun 14, 2020June 14th, 2020, 11:19 am EDT
Been wondering what you've been up to! Well done Sir!

Flies???

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Partsman
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bancroft michigan

Posts: 321
Partsman on Jun 14, 2020June 14th, 2020, 12:44 pm EDT
Beautiful fish Spence, looks like kind of a blue spot on its cheek. How do you like fishing from the StealthCraft?
Mike.
Martinlf
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Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3047
Martinlf on Jun 16, 2020June 16th, 2020, 4:57 am EDT
Nice work, Spence. Good to hear from you.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

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