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.
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This specimen appears to be of the same species as this one collected in the same spot two months earlier. The identification of both is tentative. This one suffered some physical damage before being photographed, too, so the colors aren't totally natural. I was mostly photographing it to test out some new camera setting idea, which worked really well for a couple of closeups.
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Olive Duns
Like most common names,"Olive Dun" can refer to more than one taxon. They're previewed below, along with 1 specimen. For more detail click through to the scientific names.
Mayfly Species Attenella attenuata
These are very rarely called Olive Duns.
This intriguing species has received a lot of attention in past angling books. Recent authors suspect that much of this credit was a case of mistaken identity, with Attenella attenuata receiving praise for the hatches of Drunella lata and Dannella simplex. Much of the credit was legitimate and accurate, but this species is no longer thought to be on par with its most popular cousins in Ephemerella and Drunella.
I have several specimens listed under this species, but I'm not positive the identification is correct.
I have several specimens listed under this species, but I'm not positive the identification is correct.
This specimen came from the same hatch as a male.
See 2 more specimens...
Mayfly Species Drunella walkeri
These are very rarely called Olive Duns.
Ernest Schwiebert had this to say about the hatches of this chunky Eastern Drunella (Blue-Winged Olive) species:
See the Drunella and Drunella cornuta hatch pages for additional information.
An imitation is rarely required, but notes show that when it is needed it is needed badly.
See the Drunella and Drunella cornuta hatch pages for additional information.
References
- Schwiebert, Ernest G. 1955. Matching the Hatch. MacMillan Publishing Company.