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 is a striking caddis larva with an interesting color pattern on the head. Here are some characteristics I was able to see under the microscope, but could not easily expose for a picture:
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
- The prosternal horn is present.
- The mandible is clearly toothed, not formed into a uniform scraper blade.
- The seems to be only 2 major setae on the ventral edge of the hind femur.
- Chloride epithelia seem to be absent from the dorsal side of any abdominal segments.
Based on these characteristics and the ones more easily visible from the pictures, this seems to be Grammotaulius. The key's description of the case is spot-on: "Case cylindrical, made of longitudinally arranged sedge or similar leaves," as is the description of the markings on the head, "Dorsum of head light brownish yellow with numerous discrete, small, dark spots." The spot pattern on the head is a very good match to figure 19.312 of Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019). The species ID is based on Grammotaulius betteni being the only species of this genus known in Washington state.
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Report at a Glance
| General Region | Northern michigan |
| Dates Fished | March 3 |
| Fish Caught | Brown trout |
| Conditions & Hatches | Streamers |
Details and Discussion
Partsman on Mar 6, 2021March 6th, 2021, 6:46 am EST
Well winter may be on the way out here in Michigan, and I haven’t fished since early December. So, with temps projected to be in the 40,s and some sun, I went north on Wednesday. Fished my favorite river, water was low with a little runoff stain. Temps were 17 degrees when I started and got up to maybe the low 40’s. I fished streamers all day, but around noon I tied on a sparkle minnow pattern in black and caught 3 fish within a half hour. It ended up being a 4 mile hike as my 2 wheel drive equinox sucks in any cold water conditions and I got stuck pretty good last time so I walk now. I had a great time and I’m looking forward to better times every week.
Wbranch on Mar 6, 2021March 6th, 2021, 9:25 am EST
Awesome! Good for you. I've not fished since my last smallmouth trip on November 13. I've learned steelhead are on the move where I normally fish and I'll probably be going up three days next week. That brown looks pretty thick considering it has endured along winter.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Red_green_h on Mar 6, 2021March 6th, 2021, 10:18 am EST
Color me jealous. Hoping to get out to my favorite spot in the next couple weeks. Browns won't be that big though.
Roguerat on Mar 7, 2021March 7th, 2021, 7:58 am EST
Mike,
NICE water and NICE Brown, thanks for sharing this! I'd ask what stream but know better...although I did 'borrow' the first pic for my computer's desktop image.
The streambed looks fairly wadeable, any rocksnot to speak of?
Anyway, this got my spring fever in high gear and I'm checking local flows...temps in the high 50's this coming week, maybe- just maybe- get out and wet a line.
Roguerat
'Less is more...'
Ludwig Mies Vande Rohe
NICE water and NICE Brown, thanks for sharing this! I'd ask what stream but know better...although I did 'borrow' the first pic for my computer's desktop image.
The streambed looks fairly wadeable, any rocksnot to speak of?
Anyway, this got my spring fever in high gear and I'm checking local flows...temps in the high 50's this coming week, maybe- just maybe- get out and wet a line.
Roguerat
'Less is more...'
Ludwig Mies Vande Rohe
Martinlf on Mar 7, 2021March 7th, 2021, 9:08 am EST
Nice work! Thanks for sharing.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"
--Fred Chappell
--Fred Chappell
Jmd123 on Mar 8, 2021March 8th, 2021, 6:39 am EST
DANG, Mike, you been out already??? Well done, big beefy brown you got there! Kudos to you for getting out in these cold temps. We've had sooooo much wind lately I sure haven't felt like doing much out-of-doors this winter, not to mention the Polar Vortex...
Nice job & thanks for the inspiration!
Jonathon
Nice job & thanks for the inspiration!
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
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