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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 Neoleptophlebia (Leptophlebiidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
Some characteristics from the microscope images for the tentative species id: The postero-lateral projections are found only on segment 9, not segment 8. Based on the key in Jacobus et al. (2014), it appears to key to Neoleptophlebia adoptiva or Neoleptophlebia heteronea, same as this specimen with pretty different abdominal markings. However, distinguishing between those calls for comparing the lengths of the second and third segment of the labial palp, and this one (like the other one) only seems to have two segments. So I'm stuck on them both. It's likely that the fact that they're immature nymphs stymies identification in some important way.
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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Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun Pictures

Ruler view of a Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York The smallest ruler marks are 1 mm.
Dorsal view of a Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York
Ventral view of a Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York
Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York
Lateral view of a Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York
Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York
Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York
Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York
Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York
Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York
Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York
Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York
Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York
Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Leptophlebiidae) (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun from Dresserville Creek in New York

This mayfly was collected from Dresserville Creek in New York on April 30th, 2007 and added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 3rd, 2007.

Discussions of this Dun

You all are nuts!
17 replies
Posted by VTBob on Jun 2, 2009
Last reply on Apr 10, 2012 by Entoman
Great info and photos. Fishing Catskills for first time, didn't know what a blue quill was. Looks like an #18, will a sparkle dun tie work?
Great Photos
5 replies
Posted by Martinlf on May 4, 2007
Last reply on Aug 20, 2009 by Flytyer0423
Jason, as noted before the photos of the ventral side, from the fish's eye view are great. These Show the lighter edges of the segments that Gonzo often imitates with lighter thread. I've been tying some of my baetids and paraleps with a unithread body ribbed with a lighter color (twisted to make the rib thin) and the trout seem to like it. I sometimes, (when I remember) add a coat of thinned flexament, which preserves the true thread color when it gets wet. I'd be curious to hear others ideas about Blue Quill imitations. A parachute has been working as well as Gonzo's upside down comparadun tie, one of which was readily gobbled (and seated in the lip on the hookset) by a nice spring creek brown as I hit the tail end of the hatch after a day of nymphing yesterday.

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Male Neoleptophlebia adoptiva (Blue Quill) Mayfly Dun Pictures

Collection details
Location: Dresserville Creek, New York
Date: April 30th, 2007
Added to site: May 3rd, 2007
Author: Troutnut
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