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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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Landscape & scenery photos from Toughannock Creek

My then-girlfriend, now-wife took this picture with my camera.

From Toughannock Creek in New York
I believe this is the highest free-falling waterfall in the East.  The pool below it is off-limits to fishing but probably isn't that great, anyway -- by all accounts the stream's trout population is mediocre at best.

From Toughannock Creek in New York
Toughannock Creek in New York
Toughannock Creek in New York
Toughannock Creek in New York
This gorge reportedly holds trout, and I would love to fish for them, although the stream's marginal thermal temperature would likely lead to disappointment.  It's hard to find out because there doesn't seem to be a way to get down there without professional rock-climbing equipment or a helicopter...

From Toughannock Creek in New York
It just feels wrong that no trout rose up from this ledge pool to smack a Royal Wulff.  There doesn't seem to be much of a trout population here.

From Toughannock Creek in New York
Toughannock Creek in New York
A dizzying waterfall.

From Toughannock Creek in New York
The unique geology of the Finger Lakes region of upstate NY created this waterfall, pictured here during a drought that reduced the flow to a trickle.

From Toughannock Creek in New York
Here I was unsuccessfully trying to find some lake-run fish that would have been stopped by the impressive barrier in the background.  I didn't see any fish.

From Toughannock Creek in New York
I cross a small river after an unsuccessful attempt to find some fall-run landlocked salmon.  This picture was taken shortly after another very nice wider picture of the same spot.

Photo by Elena Vayndorf.

From Toughannock Creek in New York
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